KAPIT : Following the success of its first Gawai Bazaar, Kapit will host its second Gawai Bazaar 2.0 here starting from 28 April through to 28 May at the old airport along Jalan Airport, here.
Chairing the committee meeting on Monday here was Kapit District Officer, Elvis Didit. The meeting was attended by the various government agencies, Dayak community leaders led by newly appointed Temenggong Wilfred Billly Panyau and non-governmental organisations.
According to Elvis the Gawai Bazaar is similar to the concept of the Ramadan Bazaar which among others is to provide an opportunity for the Dayak entrepreneurs in the district to carry out their business activities throughout the month-long period.
“They can sell anything under the sun except for those illegal goods and food items that contravene the various laws. They are allowed to sell food and drinks (include alcoholic drink), handicrafts or event automobiles. The bazaar is open to all Dayak entrepreneurs and traders here including those from outstation.
“We have been very successful in our first programme and this year we are expecting more participants from the Dayak business community including the Muslim converts as we also cater for halal stalls. For such purpose the organising committee provides the venue and we have liaised with a vendor , Top Event service to provide tent/canopy including tables and chairs for the traders whereby each tent that measures 20 feet by 20 feet will cost RM600. The tent could be rented on a sharing basis or individually and the committee has proposed to set up more tents (based on a sharing basis of two traders per tent),” stressed Elvis.
He added that the stalls include wet kitchen (food and drinks), games stall, fun and amusement and other dry items.
The entry forms for the Gawai Bazaar are obtainable from the organising committee members effective from 1st March and the committee has fixed 3 April as the closing date for the submission of the entry forms and for the casting of the lots.
Elvis disclosed that the opening ceremony of the Gawai Bazaar Kapit 2.0 is on 29 April at Fort Sylvia with a ‘miring’ ceremony where the Infrastructure Development and Transportation Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Jemut Masing is expected to officiate at the function.
He added various activities will be slotted together including performances by Dayak artistes, lucky draw, Kapit Idols, Jamilah contest, cultural performances and beauty contest for mothers. The committee has also fixed 27 May as the closing of the Gawai Bazaar Kapit 2.0.
“ However, we still allow them to trade until 28 May,” Elvis pointed out.
