Forty floats due for Mash Day parade tomorrow
by Linda Rutherford
FORTY floats are expected to take to the streets of Georgetown tomorrow with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in the lead under the theme `Spirits in Unity'. The ministry's band is being prepared by students and staff of both the Burrowes School of Art and the National School of Dance under the tutelage of local artist, Mr Michael Khan. At a press briefing hosted yesterday by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Ms Gail Teixeira, at the GTV 11 studios, Khan explained that the chosen theme was philosophical in its outlook. It attempts to portray spirits present, past and future, like the folk tales of `Moon gazer', `Ol' Higue' and `Massacura man" which came out of the sugar plantations. Also participating in the float parade will be the main opposition People's National Congress (PNC), which according to Teixeira has been given a number like every other participant in that event. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is also slated to be a part of the parade and not the United Nations Family Planning Association as was earlier reported. And for the first time ever, an ecumenical group led by Bishop Juan Edgehill will be part of the float parade. Edgehill, who was also at the briefing said they had been toying with the idea for some time but lacked both the courage and resources to do it. He said the float will comprise 50 costumed dancers who have all been specially trained for the event and promises that though different they "will be a sight to behold". Musical accompaniment will be supplied by a choral group drawn from the church located on D'Urban Street, Lodge. There is also to be a group of revellers called `praisers'. The contingent will first assemble at 08:30 hrs at the John Ford Car Park on East and Church Streets opposite the Central Assemblies of God Church to compose itself before joining the float at the official starting point at Camp and Church Streets. After the judging at the National Park, the group plans spending the remainder of the day in concert at the Botanical Gardens. The Courts firm plans putting out a small group of 30 this year but promises to come big next year. They will assemble at their Main Street head office before moving down to the official point of entry. Their float, which won the `Male Individual Costume' competition on Mash Nite, is also escapist in concept in that it fantasises on the space age and the new millennium. According to Mr Len Corsbie who represented the company at the briefing, "Mashramani like any other carnival type celebration is about fantasy; about escaping for a few hours from our relatively humdrum lives". Courts also wrote its own road march tune which has been having air time on radio for the past few weeks. Teixeira said that thus far everything was going according to plan and that weather permitting, Guyanese seem to be in for the biggest ever Mashramani (Republic anniversary) celebrations this year. "It looks as if it is going to be bigger [and] better and the weatherman says we will have a sunny day", she said. She said she hoped that families would come out with their picnic baskets, blankets and umbrellas since Mash Day has evolved to become more than a day when people just look at the floats passing. "We have to see Mashramani as the one day in the Guyanese calendar where we as a people can really celebrate our diversity in a situation of oneness", the minister said.
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