Fourteen sponsors are already on hand for the delegates of this year's Miss Guyana Universe Pageant.

Public Relations consultant, Steve Ninvalle, told Stabroek News after the first briefing of the 21 delegates yesterday, that the committee will present the girls to the public for the first time at a cocktail on March 9, 2002. They will also get a chance to meet their potential sponsors.

The delegates are Angelica Fredericks, former Miss Bartica; Anita Mc Pherson; Asha Pieters, Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2001; Bibi Fareena Faroon; Candacy Evelyn; Cathyrn Xavier, daughter of the Minister of Public Works, Anthony Xavier; Cephauna Glasgow, a former Miss Linden; Cindy Benjamin, a former Miss African Heritage contestant; Darda Harmon-Lewis; Heera Raghubir, a contestant of Miss Guyana Universe 1999 contest; Juanita Collins, a flight attendant with BWIA; Jonell Melissa David, former Miss Guyana World contestant; Lourianne Pluck, a former Miss African Heritage contestant; Mia Rahaman, daughter of ace racing driver and businessman Jad Rahaman; Olivia Browne, a student of Queen's College; Petal De Santos, daughter of the former attorney general Bernard De Santos, SC; Shamaine Joseph, first runner-up in Miss Guyana World 2001; Sheneze Galloway, Miss African Heritage 2001; Sissel Moore, a contestant in the Miss Mashramani 2002 pageant; Tamara Rodney from GTV Channel 11; and Tandica Singh.

The delegates were also told what was required of them and that a six-week rigorous training programme would take them up to the pageant date April 13, 2002.

Ninvalle said that the committee would provide snacks and water at training sessions as well as transportation for the delegates. A chaperone will also be assigned to each delegate and they will be tutored in Social Studies, International Affairs and basic etiquette. Dr Jennifer Basdeo-Greene, the committee said, has been assigned pageant doctor and will ensure that the delegates are physically fit.

The delegates will have their first meeting with the main trainer for the pageant Lester Rouseau on Monday. Other trainers expected for training the delegates are US-based Guyanese Robert Dover, who runs Miss Universe pageants in Washington DC and Maryland and Charles Gary.

Ninvalle said the delegates would also be provided with gym training for the toning of their bodies and keeping fit.

The queen will win $300,000 in cash, $700,000 in wardrobe and accessories and gifts. She would also be flown to New York shortly after the pageant, where some overseas-based Guyanese have undertaken to ensure that she is further trained for the Miss Universe Pageant in Puerto Rico in May.

The first runner-up will receive $100,000 in cash with gifts, second runner-up will receive $75,000 in cash with gifts, third runner-up $50,000 in cash with gifts and fourth runner-up will receive $25,000 in cash with gifts.

Odinga Lumumba is this year's Ms Guyana Universe franchise holder and the pageant committee comprises Nickolet Trotman, manager; journalists Steve Ninvalle, Clem David, and Nazim Hussein; designers Pat Coates, Pamela Fox and Michelle Cole; Fantasy Nails' Pamela Dillon; Regina Spencer and Negla Brandis.