Jordan’s presentation is one of the most polished calypsos heard in recent years. It possesses wit, charm and a phrasing so superior that one could easily imagine it being performed successfully in a calypso tent on the island of Caribbean carnival.

The singer’s main theme is that the time has come for an Amerindian to be President since all other races have enjoyed turns as Head of State of this country. ‘VJ’ promises that if elected, he would be president of all Guyana, he would raise salaries, deal with the utility companies, and, should he find persons breaking the law, he himself would put them in jail and throw away the key.

For some of his fans, the most hilarious moment of the calypso is when VJ declares that while he cannot drive a Prado, he was competent with a ‘ballahoo’ (canoe) and he would make sure all Guyanese get a similar vessel. These boats would prove very useful to the citizens of Georgetown during floods, he posits in far more rhythmic language.

Vivian Jordan’s success is particularly meaningful since Mashramani is the festival that commemorates the birth of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. This name, as every schoolchild should know, was selected from one of the Amerindian languages, and it means jollification after a cooperative effort.

While Jordan is not the first Amerindian Guyanese to sing calypsos competitively, he is believed to be the first to be adjudged a Mashramani Calypso Monarch. And he richly deserves this honour; for his presentation was first-class in almost every way.

Jordan’s success is also a marvellous herald for this week of Mash celebrations that will climax on Saturday, February 23, with a full programme of formal patriotic ceremonies such as the flag-raising event to be conducted on the tarmac of the Parliament Buildings, and a number of colourful costume band and float parades at various points in the country.

From its tentative years in the early 1970, the Mashramani festival has etched an indelible place in the consciousness of Guyanese and is one of the most popular national occasions observed in the country.

Scores of overseas-based sons and daughters of the soil plan their vacations around Mash, many of them welcoming the opportunity to get away from the bone-chilling cold of winter in North America and England.

At one stage, Mash was considered a poor relation of the world-famous Trinidad carnival, but over the years the local celebration has metamorphosed from a costume band tramp in Georgetown to an integrated cultural observance with more emphasis placed on developing indigenous talents in communities outside the capital.

While it is true that in the 1980s there were bigger costume bands and some outstanding floats depicting various aspects of social and economic development, today, through the efforts of the Ministry of Education and some commercial houses there is greater emphasis on the participation of children and youth in a range of activities, not the least of which is the delightful Children’s Mashramani Costume Parade.

Perhaps, within the next decade or so, Mashramani celebrations will witness a greater literary input such as poetry, essay and art contests for adults as well as youths; an annual national Guyanese costume competition; community music and drama contests and a national cookery competition. If planned and executed sensibly, these competitions would help to promote a greater sense of cultural involvement amongst people of all communities.

Again, we would like to congratulate the nation’s newest Calypso Monarch, Vivian Jordan. And we wish all Guyanese a Happy Mashramani 2002!