‘LINDEN QUEEN’: Regional Chairman of Region 10, Mr. Mortimer Mingo, hands over the winner’s trophy to Miss Janella Elomy Harry who copped the Miss Linden Town Week 2008 Pageant Queen title last Saturday night.PRESENTED as Miss Amelia’s Ward Housing Scheme, Janella Elomy Harry, sponsored by Basha and Piper of Wilmark Enterprises, copped the Miss Linden Town Week 2008 Pageant Queen title last Saturday night.She won above 10 other candidates who graced the stage of Mackenzie Sports Club ground after an intelligent and articulate answer to the question: “What advice would you give to encourage other young ladies to achieve similar goals.”Her terse reply was: “My encouragement would be that education is veryimportant and, if you want something in life, you should go and get it, especially education.”The response attracted about the loudest cheers from the early morning (after midnight) appreciative crowd who accepted the outcome.By taking the crown, Ms. Harry won a motor scooter and $60,000.But the evening show, of which much was expected, surprisinglyfell short of expectations, from the time contestants took to the stage, at 22:30h until the final announcement around 03:30h.It was a ‘neck-and-neck’ race between 20-year-old Harry and Miss Retrieve, Keziah Roberts, in the most important segment of the competition, with the former gaining 89 points, 20 more than the 69 secured by the latter.Roberts had emerged among the favourites who wore stunning eveninggowns, compliments of some fine designs by Linden seamstresses.The 19-year-old Roberts, with sponsorship by A and G Bovell Construction, was rewarded, as first runner-up, with a trip for two to Barbados and $50,000.She also took the Miss Physique prize donated by Guyana’sinternational track star Marian Burnett, another Lindener, while the seamstress for Roberts, Ms. Joan Yhap got the Best Designer award.With 58 points, Miss Block 22, Anandy Hughes, sponsored by ENG Caribbean Vision was second runner-up. Her prizes were a desktop computer,compliments of the Ministry of Tourism and $40,000.Miss Wismar Hill Housing Scheme, Alicia Loncke, whose sponsor was Mr. Grogan of Canada, took the third runner-up spot and $30,000.The Miss Congeniality prize, of $160,000, went to Miss Wisroc, Amanda Anthony, sponsored by the Adams Family and Friends of New York.Also as fourth runner-up, Anthony received $20,000 andthe Miss Intelligence prize donated by Collie ‘Shrimpy’ Allen.All the others were given $10,000 each for their efforts.Among those who helped distribute the prizes were Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), Mr. Mortimer Mingo, Regional Vice-Chairman, Mr. Samuel Hooper and Mr. Owen Pancham, one of the organisers of the event.