Thousands flock Hope Beach for Easter activities
- Stage Show does not disappoint
By Alex Wayne
Kaieteur News
April 11, 2007
East Coast residents and visitors from far and wide flocked the Hope Beach in their thousands on Monday to witness what was dubbed one of the most entertaining Easter shows to be hosted at the facility in years.
While visitors to the beach would have gone home contented to have flown their kites and engaged in ring and sporting games, the beach was transformed into ‘the perfect Easter Haven' this year by several entertainment promoters.
Several huge tents erected offered ample shade and relaxation for many, with the climax of the day being centred on several explosive stage performances by local soca artistes Michelle ‘Big Red' King and the G-Money singers.
Wanting to move away from the regular Easter routines, promoters along the East Coast collaborated and hosted a massive stage show.
The venture was promoted by Hardroc Entertainment, Cool Crew Productions, and Rebel Entertainment Agency.
While some would have seen the event as a ‘bore' at around 11:00 hrs, such notions would have been reversed two hours later, as the crowds began pouring in.
The beach soon became a kaleidoscope as families and groups arrived in vans, trucks, buses or whatever form of transportation they could afford.
All around the beach, tents soon sprung up, and the aroma of baked chicken and other delicacies filled the air.
Youths sprang from vehicles in excited chatter, and kites soon soared up in the sky, reflecting the true feeling of Easter.
And who said that the East Coast ladies were noted for being conservative and shy?
If this was true, then those ladies defied such notions, adorning themselves in the skimpiest and most provocative attire for an exciting day at the beach.
While refreshing beverages flowed in abundance from the numerous bars erected, every ethnic music crave was satisfied as stereo sets blasted popular selections.
Though the amount of kites raised was significantly diminished from that of last year, it was quite obvious that residents had come out to witness the show more than kite-flying.
Ring games drew the attention of many, and some persons became involved in sporting activities. However, it was the chic-chic boards and Passa Passa dance face-offs that attracted the majority during the early hours of the day.
Crowds screamed in wild abandon as group after group was eliminated in the dance contests, leaving only the more popular and versatile to reign in this arena.
Many flocked the ‘chick-chick' boards, and it was sickening to observe those operators allowing under-aged children to gamble. Upon investigation, it was discovered that children as small as nine were at the boards.
As dusk approached, almost the entire gathering was gyrating wildly to pulsating music, eating, drinking or simply enjoying the fresh, pure ‘country breeze'.
The arrival of Michelle ‘Big Red' King and the G-Money singers sent the huge crowd scrambling madly towards a stage erected at a strategic section of the beach. With her usual engaging demeanour and suggestive dance techniques, the soca queen soon had the massive crowd moving in unison to her reverberating tempos as she belted out some of her most catchy selections.
Heeding the screams of the ladies, King soon invited some ‘country gals' to a ‘soca wine down' on stage, which attracted some five contenders. While all the other contestants seemed still in their teens, one lady who was said to be a grandmother was intent on showing them that she may be ‘old but not cold'.
Heeding instructions from the soca queen, the competitors soon blazed off in a ‘fiery display' to determine who could best perform to the song ‘Guyanese wine'.
While the energetic teenagers were expected to ‘upturn' the granny, she held fort, gyrating and ‘wining to the ground' as the song instructed. Shaking and trembling in a suggestive manner, she drew wild applause and cheers from the amused and excited crowd. In the end, the competitors were all awarded jerseys for their efforts.
The G-Money Singers hit it off with the predominantly teenaged audience, who screamed and went into frenzied movements as they performed their hit song ‘Flashlight' and many others.
While nightfall halted the show, which the villagers had obviously wanted to continue, the large crowd moved to the Victoria Community Centre Ground for the After Beach Street Glow Party, which featured performances by celebrated local artistes Alabama , Super Raymond, Gad Kid, and Benjie Diamond.
At the conclusion of the Hope Beach Easter Jam, many were of the opinion that the beach should be cleaned up and beautified, since it has great potential for becoming a promising tourist attraction.