By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
May 24, 2001

FOR one and a half hours yesterday the Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis magic gripped Bartica, as the world champion performed perhaps the most meaningful task since visiting the country - turning the sod for a multi-purpose youth centre.

Guyana's first world title-holder toured two resorts and finally the interior town in a trip organised and sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism & Industry.

Students of Parika Salem Community High School, Region Three chairman Esau Dookie and Regional Education Officer Yoman Singh greeted the champion before he went on the boat for Bartica.

The first stop in the day's trip was at Shanklands, where the champion was greeted by the staff and students of Second Avenue Nursery of Bartica who were on a visit there. He toured the resort which was once a quarry owned by Max Jardim.

A trip through Marshall rapids was next and on the return, the champion took over the controls of the jet boat.

Boat captain Mike Prince said: "With a little bit of brushing up he will do very well."

The touring party lunched at Baracara Island Resort and proprietor Jad Rahaman offered the champion and his family a holiday there, any time he chooses, compliments of White Water Tours which was hired by the Tourism Ministry for yesterday's trip.

Marketing Officer in the tourism ministry, Maureen Paul, told Chronicle Sport: "It is our way of saying we're proud of him, showing appreciation for putting Guyana on the world map. It will also enhance the promotion of sport tourism."

The tourism officer also said that the ministry will be using `Sixhead' Lewis and other sportspersons on promotional material - videos and posters, among others.

"Six will be the flagship on these material," Paul disclosed.

At Bartica, it appeared the whole community came out to welcome the champion, crowding the Cool Breeze stelling where he landed around 14:00 hrs.

People of all ages and ethnic backgrounds tried to get an autograph or simply just a touch of the world famous boxer.

A long procession occupying First Avenue followed `Sixhead' who walked the 500-metre route to the office of Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford.

Eleven-year-old Kimberly Johnson, a student of St John's The Baptist Primary School, put a gold chain with a gold glove pendant around the neck of the champion as thousands tried to get closer to Lewis.

The champion led a motorcade through the town, on the way to Mount Grippa where he turned the sod on the site where a $16 million multi-purpose centre will be constructed for the young people of Bartica, the beneficiary of the President's Youth Choice Initiative. A long procession of people followed in vehicles, on foot and bicycles.

Twelve-year-old Andrew Wong, a first-former of Bartica Secondary ran the entire 10-kilometre route, to and from the site, carrying a picture of `Sixhead' Lewis which he drew.

At the site, contractor Compton Jones received the necessary documents from Ministerial Adviser, Odinga Lumumba, to start the four-month work on the building which will house a computer centre, library and meeting place for other activities in which youths will be engaged.

Regional Chairman Bradford said: "It is indeed a momentous occasion and I am happy for such a historic moment in Bartica and Region Seven."

"His turning the sod makes the project even more significant and we hope that with the success he has already achieved, the centre would be achieving even more successes for young people in this region."

The youth representative on the Regional Democratic Council, Simona Broomes said: "On behalf of the young people, I am very pleased that Sixhead's achievement will show our young people there's a place for them, too."

Coordinator for projects of the President's Youth Choice in Bartica, Howard Knights, chaired the short ceremony which climaxed the champion's visit to the area.