Miss Guyana/Universe, Mia Rahaman, was sent off in grand style on Saturday evening at a reception held in her honour at the Umana Yana where she and other delegates received their prizes.

Franchise holder Odinga Lumumba thanked the many persons who contributed to making the pageant a success and promised that the next one would be even better. He also stated that he would work with the same pageant committee, owing to the members= good performance despite the short lead time.

Referring to remarks made about Rahaman and other contestants by Channel 9 television host Lorri Alexander, Lumumba said that he would not get into any mud slinging, but pointed out that the owner of the television station should have objected to such remarks being made. Lumumba noted that the young ladies and their parents/relatives would have been hurt over what Alexander said.

The night's programme got off to a late start but those in attendance were entertained by the sounds of Fusion Sound System. Rahaman and her chaperones, Nickolette Trotman and Regina Spencer, arrived one hour and ten minutes after the scheduled starting time of the event.

Rahaman received over $1 million in cash and prizes and US$3,000. Aubrey Stevens, the patron of the pageant, who will also fund Rahaman and her chaperones' stay in the US in addition to the queen's training, donated the US currency.

Stevens will also provide for the attendance of the four runners-up in the Guyana pageant at the Miss Universe Pageant in Puerto Rico on May 29 to support Rahaman.

All five of the finalists received cash prizes from Lumumba - Rahaman received $200,000, Petal De Santos, $100,000, Juanita Collins, $75,000, Shammane Joseph, $20,000 and Asha Pieters, $25,000. All contestants received certificates of participation, a gold pageant pin compliments of Gaskin & Jackson, a Ricks & Sari hamper and a Colgate hamper.

Some of Rahaman's gifts included an education grant from Grace Kennedy Remittance Service, a television set from Courts, one hamper every month during her reigning year from Ricks & Sari, one gift voucher from Exclusive Styles, dresses and accessories from the three designers in the pageant, one dress and pair of shoes from Clairan's Enterprises, one camera kit and deluxe studio package from Acme Photo Studio and one year's supply of skin care and make-up from D.M. Sales, official distributor of Sacha cosmetics, among other prizes.

Rahaman also received gifts as Miss Congeniality and Miss Best Smile.

De Santos received a microwave oven from Patsan's Trading, a deluxe studio package from Acme Photo Studio, hampers from Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC), Duty Free Guyana and DeSinco Trading along with a pair of gold earrings from L.Seepersaud Maraj & Sons. Collins received a VCR from Reaz Trading, hampers from GPC, DeSinco Trading and Duty Free Guyana and a pair of earrings from L.Seepersaud Maraj & Sons.

Joseph received a Victoria Secret Skin Care package along with a bottle of champagne from Nanda's Boutique and hampers while Pieters received hampers and prizes as Miss Body Beautiful and Miss Sacha Face and

Sissel Moore received a microwave oven from Nanda's Boutique as Miss Totally Together.

Rahaman left Guyana early this morning for the US where she will commence training for the May 29 event.