Lotto stays with Sobers
by Nivedta Kowlessar and Wendella Davidson
A PROUD Guyana Lottery Company, sponsor of newly-crowned Miss Guyana 1999, Morvinia Sobers, yesterday said it is willing to help her prepare for participation in the Miss Universe contest in Trinidad on May 26. "We are totally elated...we are prepared to do anything to further help Morvinia in the preparations for her appearance at the Miss Universe pageant," Marketing Manager, Ms Tracey Rose told the Chronicle. "We don't know what are the plans, we have not been approached, but are willing to talk and negotiate with promoter, Mr Sri Yoogeandra," she said. Rose recalled Sobers was among other contestants who had called the company asking for sponsorship and were advised to send profiles of themselves. "I was impressed with Sobers. She did not send me a profile, she presented herself, sat down and we had a chat. It is good to see her come this far and we are quite willing to assist her further." Sobers copped the coveted crown at the break of Sunday morning at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, edging seven other beauties to represent Guyana at Miss Universe. But the win was not without controversy, as most who witnessed the contest felt second runner-up, Nevillean Dundas, Miss GT&T Yellow Pages, who did better than all the others in the intelligence segment, deserved the crown. Sobers' victory, culminating an almost five-hour programme co-hosted by veteran broadcaster Mr Carlton James and GTV Manager, Ms Rhyaan Shaw. But it was soured by a `walk out' and screams by sections of the nearly packed house objecting to the first runner-up spot going to Indra Changa, Miss Action Tyre. The outcome was the `talk of the town' yesterday as Guyanese expressed disappointment that brains had not matched beauty in a bold comeback of the pageant, previously dogged by discord and not held in seven years. Sobers, a five feet eight inches 20-year-old, dazzled the almost packed house with an emerald one-piece swimsuit and scarlet gown dubbed by designer, Michelle Cole, as `Red and Ready'. However, the computer student let backers down badly in interviews with emcee Shaw. Fielding a question about what she would tell the world about Guyana, the Karasabai-bred girl offered an answer about the country's "biodiversity cultures" and an inarticulate comment about its six races and "lots of sightseeing places." That drew cries of "ooh, ooh" from the extremely attentive audience, reacting to every slip of the tongue. There was no improvement in the final questioning, also by Shaw, who asked "what will be your main goal if you were given the opportunity to lead your country at the beginning of the new millennium? Sobers, in a loud tone, attempted: "My aim is to let women come on top in the year 2000. Women must be zealous, women must be determined for what they want, be career...(laughs at this stage drowning out parts of her answer)...have their career in politics, anything at all. Also, I will let the men know that they will not be put down, but men and women can work together in Guyana to build this country. I will certainly let Guyana show an improvement in terms of building this country." Dundas' answer was: "First of all, I would strive for unison in our country in terms of ethnic...I think we need that really bad. We need in the Constitution...say we can have the removal of all forms of discrimination in order to bring our peoples together and they must be proud that they are Guyanese." Earlier, she had wowed supporters with a "fabulous, fabulous" answer to a query about whether she was having a good time. The University of Guyana law student had followed this up with a comment that she focusing on the environment, given its importance, fumbling on the word sustainable, but bouncing back with a revelation that she was inspired by Ms Desiree Bernard, the first woman Chief Justice in the Caribbean. That drew loud cheers which grew louder when the 18-year-old, in answer to a question about how she would describe herself in one word, answered "beautiful." Changa's response to the final question was: "I will definitely unite Guyana, for I think that is what we need to move forward. I think Guyana is a beautiful place and we have beautiful people. We just need unity." The answer was obviously cut short in reaction to an extremely boisterous crowd. The results, tallied by judges Malcolm Panday, Paloma Mohamed, Paul Fung-A-Fat, Brian `Straighty' Nobrega, Chiquita Rahaman, Margot Hope, and Venezuelan ambassador, Hector Azocar, were checked by Barcellos Narine auditors. But immediately after being announced, disgruntled patrons hurriedly exited the Centre, leaving only a handful of well-wishers to congratulate the three who copped the top spots. The queen, curvaceous with a 33-24-38 figure, said she was "overwhelmed" with the outcome and pledged to do all in her power to be a good ambassador for her country at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant. Dundas said: "When I heard my name called in the final three I was excited...well, but you know, I don't know what to say," adding she was a little disappoinited, but it was all up to the judges. Changa commented: "I feel good. I think the judges...well, I leave it up to them. If they say so, it's so," remarking that she was definitely not nervous, but excited. The aquarius-born North West beauty said she though she did her best in all the segments and if the judges think I fell down in one, that's their decision."
|