PNC to hold separate flag raising ceremony Stabroek News February 19, 2000 The People's National Congress (PNC) will once again be holding a separate flag raising ceremony on the night before Guyana's 30th Republic anniversary. The ceremony scheduled to begin at 8.00 pm at the Square of the Revolution next Tuesday will feature a cultural show, including performances by top local artistes and bands, and an address by PNC leader, Hugh Desmond Hoyte prior to the hoisting of the flag. At a press conference yesterday at Congress Place, Sophia, General Secretary of the PNC, Oscar Clarke said that Mashramani is an ongoing activity since the early 1970s and "our people have traditionally hoisted the flag at midnight on the 22nd" and the ceremony this year will continue the tradition in the way it was intended. The official state flag raising ceremony will be held at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday at 7 am. The PNC's theme this year is "PNC Solid 2000 - Keeping Hope Alive" and Clarke said that this obviously has a wider message for the future in light of this momentous year. He dismissed suggestions that there is a separate celebration despite saying that the PNC had not been invited to participate in the Mash committee. He said that the party had always been involved in celebrations, not withstanding efforts to diminish its role. He said that the PNC's Mash Fiesta Float Parade will have over 20,000 revellers "tramping on the streets of Georgetown" and taking their place in the Mash parade as the no.10 float. The PNC contingent will gather at the Square of the Revolution at 8:00 hrs and then join the official parade at its starting point at Church and Camp streets. It will follow the route of the parade up to First Street and then peel off to Congress Place for festivities there including food, drinks and live music.