Rufina Allicock, new Amerindian Heritage Queen
Guyana Chronicle
September 29, 2003
GINA- Sixteen year old Rufina Allicock of Dallawala, Region 10 ((Upper Demerara/Berbice) was crowned Miss Amerindian Heritage 2003, shortly in the wee hours of Sunday at the National Cultural Centre.
And as she was being sashed by President Bharrat Jagdeo who among the hundreds thrilled by the evening’s events, outgoing Queen, Evita Walcott, placed the traditional crown on the new Queen’s head.
She was also presented with a bouquet by Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues..
The delegates represented all but one of the ten administrative regions and the audience heard well-pointed answers to the various questions asked during the intelligence segment, which was preceded by an evening gown display by the delegates.
The display was however not judged and served as part of the night’s entertainment.
But it was the displays in the indigenous wear segment that caught the attention of the patrons.
The five finalists chosen after the intelligence segment from among whom the eventual queen was chose were Tiannie Causeway, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica); Zulicka Joseph of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); Ann Rannie of Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Gillian Joseph, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo)and the Queen herself, Rufina Allicock of Dallawala, Region 10
The final question asked was each of the five finalists was “Are you proud to be an Amerindian? Why? or Why not?, and judging from some of the answers it could have been surmised that the rigours of the evening may have begun to take its toll.
The placings of the other finalists were Gillian Joseph,Region Nine -1st runner-up; . Ann Rannie, Region Seven - 2nd runner-up; Tiannie Causeway, Region Four - 3rd runner; and Zulika Joseph, Region Six- 4th runner up.
The newly crowned queen also received a cash prize of $100,000 and a food hamper.
The well-organized pageant was interspersed with a number of thrilling performances by National Calypso monarch, the Mighty VJ who performed two of his more popular songs, including his most recent, “Amerindian Woman, complimented by Hinterland students reciting Bob Marley’s “One Love”.
Patrons were treated too to songs and dances from a groups including from Sand Creek; The Mighty Pakuri; The Callistro Siblings; Masema and his younger sister - Clewis and the Calibro band of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, while Candace Field did Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time”.
President Jagdeo also took time out during the intermission to mingle and take photographs with scores of Amerindians who turned out for the view the event.
The pageant brought the curtain down on one month of activities in observance of Amerindian Heritage Month.