300 strong contingent to showcase ‘Cultural fusion’

The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport in association with the Burrowes School of Art has been working feverishly to complete their costumes for the Mashramani Road parade on Saturday.

This year the Ministry’s band will be showcased under the theme “Cultural fusion”, and will see a mixture of the different ethnic groups and their cultures. The costumes are being designed by students of the School.

Some of the body costume that are already completed

The Government Information Agency (GINA) today, visited the Burrowes School of Art to observe ongoing preparations.

Event Coordinator, Volda Ramsammy, stated that preparations are moving apace and, thus far the body costumes are completed and they are currently working on the main floats. They are way ahead in terms of groundwork, compared to previous years, she said.

The ministry will be participating in the King, Queen and individual float categories which will see about 300 revellers at the Mashramani Road March.

Staff of the Burrowes School of Art working on the King float

Ramsammy said the costumes will depict colours and symbols representing the various ethnic groups in Guyana so as to showcase Guyana’s rich and diverse historical background.

Focus will be placed specifically on the African, Chinese and East Indian traditions, since this year Guyana will be celebrating 250 years of the Berbice Slave rebellion, 175 years since the first East Indian indentured immigrants landed here, and 160 years since the arrival of Chinese immigrants to work on the sugar plantations after the end of slavery.

Students creating costumes for the Culture Ministry

Ramsammy said that she is optimistic the Ministry will put on a good show on Mash day as they always do.