A number of large companies that have been fixtures of the annual Mash Day parade will not be around this year. But coordinators downplayed this, yesterday, saying that the show will be as exciting as ever.
Out of the float parade are beer companies, Banks DIH and Ansa McAl.
When questioned on the reason for the withdrawal of the popular Carib Beer contingent, Public Relations Officer of Ansa McAL, Darshanie Yusuf, said that the company will be doing things differently this year.
“Local designer Maxi Williams will be designing 100 costumes for a band under the name of Ansa McAL’s Tropical Rhythms brand, which will be a part of the parade. It will be a smaller band to the usual Carib Beer band which could be as many as 500 strong.”
She explained that the revellers of the Carib Beer brand will be at a party booth on Vlissingen Road.
Banks DIH officials were not readily available for comments yesterday but Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, speaking at a press conference, said that the beverage giant has contributed to Mashramani in a different way this year.
One of the companies not in the forefront again is the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T). Nadia De Abreu, a spokesperson, disclosed that the company has participated in the annual road march for the past three years but this year too the company will be looking at being involved, but in a different way.
“Instead, GT&T has been a major contributor to the Children’s Road parade. We took part in the big parade in a small way last year, mainly to sensitize the public about our Mobile Money Unit.”
Yesterday, events coordinator, Lennox Canterbury, maintained that patrons can be assured of an exciting show on tomorrow.
He noted that Allied Arts; Pulse Entertainment; Ministry of Natural Resources and The Environment; Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; Ministry of Health; Hits and Jams Entertainment; the Chinese Association; Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; PPP/C Progressive Youth Organization; U-Mobile (Digicel) as well as groups from the administrative regions, will be among the groups participating in the parade tomorrow.
So far, 27 mash bands have been registered to participate..
In reference to the absence of the usual participants in the road march, Canterbury said that there are a number of other Mashramani activities that these companies would help to promote.
“What happens is that the road march is considered a high point of Mashramani but there are different segments of the celebration, for example Steel Pan, Masquerade and Educational… Nonetheless, I appeal to public and private sector organizations to form any partnership that would help to further enhance the event.”
Mashramani evolved from Linden in the 60’s and morphed into countrywide celebrations leading up to February 23, the anniversary of Guyana becoming a republic.
