No Rupununi Rodeo this year as Guyana battles thousands of COVID-19 cases

One of the biggest public entertainment events in the country, the Rupununi Rodeo has been cancelled for the third year in a row as Guyana continues to battle a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The Rodeo Committee made the announcement on Thursday via a notice on its Facebook page.

The rodeo was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and now it is suspected that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is here.

According to the Committee, the National COVID-19 Task Force has not granted approval for the hosting of the highly anticipated event due to the sharp rise in infections and “and concerns surrounding the new Omicron variant and how fast it spreads.”

“I know we all miss it, it is a part of our lifestyle, celebration, and identity. But, we must look to the safety of our friends, guests, and families first,” the Rodeo Committee wrote.

“We hope that in 2023, we can return with the big annual Rodeo celebration on Easter weekend [so] till then, please keep an eye on this page for announcements of mini-events that can be held in accordance with the national guidelines throughout this year,” the notice read.

The event was a staple for the Easter weekend celebrations.

Bareback bronco and bull riding, cow milking and calf and sheep roping were a few of the activities that thousands of locals and overseas patrons would flock to Lethem, Region Nine to witness.