Mashin' as One
THE Mashramani fever is picking up and organisers will be hoping for fine weather for the grand finale on the Republic anniversary day Wednesday. The rains came down in Georgetown yesterday morning but did not dampen the spirits of the young celebrants in the annual children's road march sponsored by Fernleaf and the Education Ministry. They were one in celebrating an important national event and among them was a youngster determinedly carrying a little float encouraging unity among Guyanese. There he was, gaily dressed and forging down the street with his message `Together as one in 2000' with portraits of President Bharrat Jagdeo and leader of the main opposition People's National Congress (PNC), Mr Desmond Hoyte linked in a symbolic handshake. Mr Jagdeo turned out to encourage the youngsters along yesterday, mingling with other spectators on part of the route. Mr Hoyte is yet to take up the President's invitation to meet but `hope springs eternal in the human breast' and who knows what a plea from the hearts of the young and the innocent can bring forth? Whether or not the two leaders `mash as one' this week, the show has to go on and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms Gail Teixeira says she is "delighted" with the response from those participating in the Mashramani festivities. She reported last week that 44 bands and contingents of different sizes are in the celebrations this year. Twenty-three contingents are on stream for the grand float parade around the city on Mash Day Wednesday, not including the PNC which has announced that, like last year, it will be in part of the route with its band of revellers. Traditional Mash activities have also been under way in other parts of the country with the children's segments stealing much of the limelight at competitions at different venues in Georgetown. A disappointment, as we have noted before, continues to be the standard of the compositions offered up for the calypso contests and the Culture Ministry has to try to arrive at some mutually agreed guidelines to try to lift the level. There have been questions raised about the judging and other criteria of this aspect of the Mashramani observances and the ministry has to take these on board. Attempts to politicise the Republic anniversary or any other national celebrations do more good than harm and those who keep moving in this direction cannot be said to be really interested in advancing the cause of unity. Obvious divisions in an affair that should be free of political gutter-fighting will drive away rather than attract participants and making it a true tourist attraction will be mere dreaming. The children have been setting the way and it is their future that today's leaders should be trying to preserve and make better. Those committed to moving on have to shrug aside the disappointments of having to deal with others still struggling with hangovers from the past and take heart that the young continue to look to the future with hope. This should put more spring in their steps to determinedly mash as one on Mash Day - come rain or shine.
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