Historic ‘Fioilworks’ display to mark Guyana’s First Oil

One of the fireworks display that captivated spectators to mark Guyana celebration of First Oil

Spectators at a stand-still watching the display

History will record the night of Friday, January 17, 2020, as the night Guyanese numbering in the thousands representing diversities in age, race, religion, and ethnicity gathered in Georgetown, to witness a fireworks (Fioilworks) display put on by the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Energy in collaboration with ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block Co-ventures along the seawall at the Kitty foreshore to celebrate the nation’s first oil.

Earlier in the evening, the elites celebrated Guyana’s First Oil at a lavish cocktail ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in Kingstown, Georgetown with fine wine and amenities. It is unclear how many braved the cold breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, sandfly bites and stood in the late-night dew to witness the fireworks display.

A sense of pride could be seen on the faces of almost everyone who gathered to witness the display, some viewing from as far as Lamaha and Irving Street, Seawall Bandstand, Rupert Craig Highway and the majority in the direct zone of the Kitty Pump Station.

The Department of Energy, prior to the night’s event, issued a Public Service Announcement encouraging persons to join in the celebration by way of a competition that would see them owning of ten First Oil Collectors Vials of Guyana’s Oil as well as many other prizes.

Guyanese with their mobile phones recording the fireworks display as it unfolds before their eyes

Spectating the fireworks display proved the letter and spirit of social cohesion as friends, families, co-workers, and strangers shared moments, literally rubbed shoulders with their eyes to the skies as the dazzling colors from the fireworks illuminate the skies in various formations.

The shooting off of the fireworks was handled by the soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force who earlier in the day stockpiled the explosives in the perimeters of the 1823 Monument; unveiled in 2013 by then President Donald Ramotar and which represents the largest slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere that contributed significantly to the abolition of slavery.

Spectators in the foreground and fireworks in the background on Friday night

While the event was expected to commence at 22:00hrs, it was at approximately 22:30hrs that the fireworks display began and received loud cheers from the thousands of spectators.

The fireworks display lasted for just about fifteen minutes and those gathered, especially natives of the motherland enjoyed every second of it. This was evident by their smiles, facial expressions of amusement, applauds and in some instances, their decision to record the entire fifteen minutes of the display.

Following the event, persons expressed satisfaction at what they moments earlier witnessed. Some even proclaiming that it was the first time that they have seen so many fireworks; comparing Friday night’s display with that of the traditional Old Year’s display.

First responders from the Fire Service as well as a Guyana Police Force Traffic Officer shares in the moment

The organizers of the event seem to have had everything well worked and planned out. Emergency Medical Technologists (EMT), First Responders from the Guyana Fire Service and the police were out in their numbers to respond to any eventuality.

Another of the historic displays that will go down in the history book

Friday’s display comes twenty-nine days after Guyana first became an oil-producing nation on December 20, 2020, when ExxonMobil lifted the first set of rich quality crude while in the Stabroek Block where the Liza Destiny as been drilling in Guyana’s economic zone.