New Amsterdam’s Town Week activities culminated over the past weekend with the traditional Town Day street lime on Saturday and a “Fun Day” on Sunday at Esplanade Recreational Park. However, the thousands who converged on the town’s main thoroughfare, Main Road, were for the second year disappointed as the planned showcase was almost non-existent. It was the consensus of a wide cross-section of revellers that the much-anticipated Town Day Extravaganza was a letdown.

Officials of the organising committee had predicted that “Main Street would come alive with the Town Day Extravaganza, with booths and stalls displaying the variety of products available in New Amsterdam and the renditions of popular music bands filling the street.”

Yet only Melsha Furniture Store, the Georgetown Reading and Research Centre, Comforting Hearts, an NGO, the Berbice Branch of the Young Women’s Christian Association and a sprinkling of craft producers were on hand to provide any semblance of exhibits. However, there were a number of booths offering for sale a variety of clothing, soft toys, beverages and food. Topping the list as usual were those offering alcoholic beverages and food for sale.

The event got off to a sluggish start and did not move into gear until late Saturday afternoon, when people began converging at the corners of Pitt, New and Chapel Streets where three sound systems were located. A booth operated by Banks DIH however was the main attraction with the popular Rhythm Stars Sound System drawing droves of the young and not- so-young.

Visibly missing was the large contingent from Demerara and West Berbice, which had in the past attended and supported the street fair. It was the view of many that other activities in the city and around New Amsterdam over the past week and weekend impacted negatively on attendance at Town Day 2003.

By 10 pm on Saturday the revelry had begun to peter out as scores headed towards the National Psychiatric Hospital at Fort Canje for an after-party. Concerns have again been raised over the holding of such events there, which invariably conclude late at nights.

On Sunday the week of activities, which commenced on October 26, concluded with a “Fun Day” at the Esplanade Park. The activity was however marred by the firing of gunshots by a licensed firearm holder who according to the police was attempting to stop a fight between two revellers. The incident forced a premature end to the activity at around 10 pm as persons stampeded from the Park.

Once again, members of the business community were criticised for not supporting the week of activities. In the past they have been asked by the Organising Committee to make donations in cash or kind towards the event. The business community on the other hand has repeatedly expressed concerns over financial accountability, the composition of the committee and the organization of the activities.

According to them, these concerns are still to be addressed and they are likely to remain aloof from future events until this is done.

However, the organisers have described the week and the Town Day activity as a success. The police have reported that the weekend was more or less trouble-free with just a few minor incidents.