New Amsterdam celebrates 135 years

Sep 03, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – New Amsterdam will mark its 135th anniversary with a month-long programme of religious, educational, sporting and cultural activities, with Town Day once again serving as the centerpiece of the celebrations.

The festivities, which will run from September 18 to October 31, were unveiled on Monday by Deputy Mayor Kirk Fraser, who heads the Town Day planning committee, ahead of the statutory meeting of the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council (M&TC).

Deputy Mayor, Kirk Fraser

This year’s celebrations will also contribute to the continued enhancement of the town’s historic Esplanade Park.

Fraser said funds raised from last year’s Town Day activities are being used to improve the park, with work already underway.

“If you can take a visit to the park, you would see that we have already mounted the poles for our floodlights. We have already procured those floodlights, and it’s now at a phase of installation,” Fraser said.

He said the council intends to again channel funds raised from this year’s activities towards improvements that would allow residents to better enjoy the park’s natural surroundings.

The council is also seeking funding for a more comprehensive redevelopment of the facility, including sports, recreational and family-oriented amenities.

Those plans, however, come as the central government has unveiled its own vision for the Esplanade Park. President Irfaan Ali and Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh recently presented government’s concepts for the redevelopment and repackaging of the facility.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Town Day programme will begin with the second annual food festival from September 18, following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

The festival will be followed by a Gospel Concert on October 3 at the Berbice High School auditorium, featuring local talent under the theme, “Praise and Thanks.”

The educational component begins on October 5 with adjudicated impromptu speeches and an essay-writing competition at the council’s chambers.

A football competition will run from October 9 to 11, followed by a new joint services debate competition on October 12 and 13.

An all-inclusive domino competition for clubs in the town is scheduled for October 16.

The town week “jumpstart” will take place along Republic Road on October 17, while a basketball competition is scheduled for October 20 to 23.

The popular “big people party” will be held on October 24, while the celebrations will culminate with the annual street fair on October 31.

Other activities planned for September and October include an all-black party and a car show.

The celebrations have so far received support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union (GPSCCU), with other potential sponsors also indicating their support.

This year’s Town Day is being held under the theme, “New Amsterdam 2050, A Small Town Rising, Bridging Heritage and Innovation.”

The theme is intended to foster greater unity among residents while encouraging members of the New Amsterdam diaspora to reconnect with the town.

Mayor, Wainwright McIntosh

Mayor Wainwright McIntosh reflected on the municipality’s history and paid tribute to those who contributed to its development over the decades.

“I want to thank those persons who would’ve served this beautiful town of ours before. The platform they would have set, even our first mayor in 1891—Mr. Neil Ross McKinnon—we stand firmly on his shoulders, and all those individuals who would have contributed to the growth and development of this town of New Amsterdam,” McIntosh said.

New Amsterdam attained township status on September 1, 1891, and is recognised as Guyana’s oldest municipality.

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