GUYANESE from all walks of life turned out in their thousands yesterday for the traditional Easter Monday kite flying and other activities.

Many seemed to take easy, preferring to laze or picnic under the cool shade of a tree or makeshift tent rather than engage in the more adventurous task of flying the traditional kite.
But there were kites everywhere - large, medium, small, unusual, colourful, plastic or paper.

They dotted the skyline in and around specific favourite spots in the city, on the East Coast Demerara, the West Coast and West Bank Demerara and other parts of the country.

The National Park in Georgetown was, without a doubt, the favourite 'hang-out' and picnic spot earlier in the day as thousands of persons filled the park.

However, most persons, some of whom were seen in the National Park and various other places earlier in the day, flocked the Georgetown Seawall later in the afternoon, especially between Kitty and Liliendaal, by the University of Guyana.

Several music sound systems were set up along the seawall and in other areas to entertain those who preferred to celebrate in forms other than by kite-flying.

While many were flying kites in observance of the Christian belief and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, others saw the festival commemoration as another family day and a day for merry-making.

The bright sunshine and cool Atlantic breeze were the ideal conditions for the flying of kites which for Christians signify Christ's resurrection and glorious ascension.

At the Lusignan seawall, for instance, residents said the turnout yesterday was the largest in recent years.

There was also a good turnout at the other regular kite-flying haunts such as the Joe Vieira Park just off the Demerara Harbour Bridge on the West Bank Demerara, the seawall at Mon Repos, Enmore and Better Hope; Hope beach, and various open spaces in the city.

The Everest Sports Club ground in Georgetown was also a hive of activity as hundreds of Guyanese chose the venue to spend their Easter holiday, either picnicking or participating in a grand kite-flying competition which was sponsored by Vitamalt.

Twenty-three persons entered their kites in the three categories of the competition - the largest kite, the smallest kite and the most unusual kite.

The winner in each category received $20,000 as a cash prize; the first runners-up received $10,000; and the second runners-up, $5,000 each.

In the 'largest kite' category, Andrew Juman's approximately 9'3" box-kite won the competition, followed by Desmond Massiah (first runner-up) and Wilbur Sears (second runner-up) in the same category.

Juman, of Ogle, East Coast Demerara told this newspaper that he took about two hours to make the huge box-kite. Surprisingly, Juman had no problems in meeting the 15-minutes requirement of having the kite in the air and 'flying' to be able to enter the competition.

Unfortunately, another box-kite of about the same height or slightly bigger could not stay up in the air over the required 15-minute period and as such was disqualified from the competition.

One of the favourite kites on show at the competition was a six-foot high board-kite, which placed second in the category, and which was spectacularly done by Massiah, an artist.

The kite showed a hand holding a Vitamalt bottle in such a way that the contents were depicted falling on a palm tree which sprung out of a cup lying on the national flag of Guyana, the Golden Arrowhead.

Massiah explained that his work is indicative of what most Guyanese want to see happen between the two major political parties in Guyana, the governing People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) - that is for them to come together and unite "as it was" many years ago.

"The message this kite is trying to give is that there should be an amalgamation of the two parties - the PPP and the PNC - and revitalise them with Vitamalt coming from a Divine hand," Massiah said.

In the smallest-kite category, Bobb Ramnauth placed first; Ronald Bess, second; and Sherry Stoll, third. All three kites were less than 11/2 inches high.