By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
May 15, 2001

Guyana's World Boxing Association's welterweight champion Andrew `Six Head' Lewis will have a packed holiday programme when he returns to Guyana from his base in the United States tomorrow.

According to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Keith Booker, during Lewis' 12-day visit, he will pay courtesy calls on president Bharat Jagdeo, Minister of sports Gail Teixeira, Mayors Hamilton Green (Georgetown), John Merai (Rose Hall) Stan Smith (Linden) and Neville Johnson (New Amsterdam) and will also meet with the Regional Chairmen of Region's Six, Seven and Ten.

Booker was speaking at a press briefing hosted by his ministry yesterday in the ministry's board room.

The itinerary of Lewis' visit to Guyana does not include his meeting with leader of the opposition Hugh Desmond Hoyte. However, Lewis' tour manager Fiasal Feroze Ali of the `Friends of Andrew Lewis' group informed Stabroek Sport that Mr. Hoyte was written to but to date he has not replied whether or not he is willing to meet with Lewis.

Ali was a part of the press briefing. When he arrives at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Lewis and his 13-man entourage which includes Lewis' fiance and son, management team as well as his security will arrive to a steelband reception and will be met by representatives of the government as well as members of the Guyana Boxing Board and the tourism ministry.

A civic reception awaits him from 6 pm at City Hall where he will receive the Key to the city from Mayor Green. At 5 pm, Lewis will pay a courtesy call on president Jagdeo and at 7.30 pm, he will be a guest at the Presidential Reception slated for the Umana Yana.

On Thursday, Lewis' programme begins at 10 am with a press briefing at the GTV studio, Homestretch Avenue. At 4 pm, he will receive a Home-coming welcome in Albouystown at Jimmy Ramnarayan's residence, on Independence Boulevard.

On Friday, The Welterweight champion will visit Baracara and Shanklands resorts as well as Bartica where he will meet some of his many fans including the Region's chairman Brentnol Archer, compliments of the tourism ministry.

On Saturday, Lewis along with Minister of Housing Sheik Baksh will visit three housing schemes. However Booker informed members of the media that he does not know which three housing schemes minister Baksh will take Lewis to, to choose the plot of land president Jagdeo had promised him when he won the welterweight title with a seventh round stoppage of James Page on February 17.

The same day from noon, Lewis will visit boxing gyms in Albouystown including the Young Achievers Gym where he started his career and from 7 pm, he will be a guest at a reception to be hosted by the Guyana Boxing Board.

From 8 am on Sunday May 20, Lewis and his entourage along with friends and well wishers, will stage a children's walk from Albouystown to the National Park where the children will be given a treat, compliments of the Friends of Andrew Lewis group.

From noon the same day, Lewis will meet with sportsmen and women at the cliff Anderson Sports Hall to discuss how he got to where he is currently and his plans for the future.

On Monday May 21, Lewis will pay a courtesy call on Minister Teixeira at 2 pm and at 2.30 pm he will visit an exhibition and fair at the National Museum.

A trip to Linden is planned for Tuesday May 22 and while at Linden Lewis will meet the town's Mayor and Regional Chairman as well as visit places of interest in Linden

The `champ' will have his only free day on Wednesday, May 23 and it is expected that he will meet with his childhood friends as well as those individuals who assisted him in one way or the other during his career.

Thursday, May 24, the Ghetto youth will visit Berbice where he will meet with the Mayors and Regional Chairmen of Rose Hall and New Amsterdam.

He will also pay a visit to the Sapodilla Learning Institute in West Coast Berbice.

On May 25, Lewis will attend the Flag Raising Ceremony in the national Park and on May 26 he will visit the Botanic Gardens, Georgetown.

He leaves for his USA base the following day.