Massive Mash
By Miranda La Rose
`Love and Unity, One Big Family', probably the most popular tune that stereo systems blared yesterday established the mood for Guyanese and visitors alike as they took to the streets of Georgetown to celebrate the grand finale of this year's national Mashramani festivities. Hundreds of people from all walks of life began to set up their booths the night before and in the early morning and later thousands of families and crowds of people began occupying empty spaces, spreading their picnic baskets on Merriman's Mall and all along Irving Street and Vlissengen Road through to the National Park. The eastern and western stands in the National Park were completely filled by noon as was every conceivable space along the Mash Route. Every spectator with whom Stabroek News spoke said that the activity was the best in recent years and they are now looking forward to next year's extravaganza. A group of volunteers with the British Voluntary Service Organisation who recently arrived in the country on work attachments to the private and public sectors felt that they were lucky coming here at this time. Overseas-based Guyanese at home on holiday also said they felt good at what they had seen. Rated the best in years, some 37 costume bands - compared with a handful in recent years - `mashed' down the streets in carnival style to current popular soca, calypso and reggae music. The fully dressed to the skimpily clad were on show though credit must be given to the designers as many spectators considered that the costumes were "decent". Several revellers in the bands were either decked out in colourful T-shirts on which were emblazoned the theme of this year's Mashramani or the mission statement of the companies they represented. Others were replendent in costumes full of colour, glitter and glamour. Under the theme `We Mashing as One in 2000', the Laparkan Group of Companies/Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) band set the pace by moving off at exactly 0945 hrs, fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled 1000 hrs departure time. This was a big improvement on previous years when the parade started late. For the first time, too, since Mashramani has come into being there were some 20 private sector companies. They included ACME, Courts Furniture Store, Don Gomes Optical, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, DIDCO/Kentucky Fried Chicken, Stabroek News, Nigel's Supermarket, Subway and Buckingham Forest Enterprise. Non-governmental organisations included the Guyana Red Cross Society, the Georgetown Rotary Club and the Horticultural Society. The order in which the bands were due to move off was not observed because of the late arrival of some of the teams. Nevertheless, the bands moved along in an orderly manner although the crowd was massive in many places along the route, especially at the corner of Irving and Church Streets, Lamaha and Irving Streets and through to the National Park. By 1630 hrs there were still several bands on Irving Street, JP Latchmansingh Road and Thomas Road waiting to enter the Park. Government officials including President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Sam Hinds, directors of companies and managers and supervisors took part in the revelry by dancing zestfully to the latest West Indian music blaring from the sound systems throughout the route. They led the bands in many instances or were among the more spirited revellers in their bands. Along the way, too, many spectators could not resist joining in on the side moving to the sound of the music as the bands made their way through the crowds which always threatened their steady progress. As the 350-strong Laparkan/GNIC band led the way, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) contingent resplendent in their costumes and floats followed. The M&CC, one of the largest bands, was helmed by its Queen of the Band. The Chinese Association and the Ministry of Health were among the early birds to move off in the first batch from Camp and Church Streets. The United Nations Population Fund/Government of Guyana Project SOON band was clearly one of the largest semi-costumed bands on parade rivalling Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), Western Union Money Transfer and the Laparkan Group of Companies. Apart from employees and friends of Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel and the Ocean View Hotel and Convention Centre, a number of their guests on business or on vacation here joined the hotel's contingents. Mash players entered as clusters but there were distinct segments in which various entities highlighted aspects of their work. Among these contingents were several government ministries and state agencies. They included the state media agencies which took part in the `Media Mash' contingent. The Guyana Broadcasting Corporation was colourfully attired and showed up the rest of the media houses. Stabroek News, the country's only independent daily newspaper was not to be left out and `mashed' under the theme `We Cover Guyana'. Kaieteur News, too, had a fairly good turnout. The joint Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock and the Ministry of Agriculture band was very impressive. Included in their presentation were the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, the Guyana School of Agriculture, the Regional Programme for Animal Health Assistants (REPAHA), the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), the Guyana Forestry Commission and the National Dairy Development Programme. It would be fair to say that all government ministries were fairly well represented especially the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; the Ministry of Home Affairs which included the Police, the Prison Service, the Fire Service, the General Registrar's Office and the National Registration Centre. Falling under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development were a number of administrative regions. Region Ten in particular was outstanding with its `Peace and Love' theme. The Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) contingent was also impressive and though smaller, so was Region Seven's (Cuyuni/Mazaruni). Regions Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Five (Mahaica/West Berbice) were also well represented. Kitty Tots and Teens which took part in the Fernleaf-sponsored Children's Road March also joined in the parade. The People's National Congress band led by a number of popular stereo sets and female calypsonian Tiny Duggan also joined the parade at the starting point. The only political party on the road, the PNC band attracted hundreds of spectators who joined in the fun and frolic and `mashed' with the PNC into Congress Place, Sophia. The PNC took the rear and broke off at the corner of Thomas Road and JP Latchmansingh Road, turned east into Sandy Babb Street and headed to the PNC headquarters at Sophia. Despite the early start, the movement of the bands into the National Park was somewhat slow because of the judging taking place there. Bands were required to move around the National Park tarmac twice before moving off. This caused bands entering the park and those following behind to wait. Up to last night, the judges were tabulating scores in the various contests being judged in the float parade.
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