President Bharrat Jagdeo will have to be advised on whether Mashramani Day activities, which coincide with the Muslim religious holiday of Eid ul Adha, should be deferred.

A Mashramani designer/calypsonian and a designer/band sponsor yesterday differed on the suggestion.

The proposal to defer the costume band and float parade in the city was made by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) with support from the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT).

Asked at a press briefing yesterday whether he would intervene in the issue, Jagdeo said that he preferred to be advised on it. He said there were persons looking at it.

Ten years ago, the country's Republic anniversary February 23 was on a Sunday and the costume band and float parade was held the next day, Monday, February 24. This is likely to be cited as a precedent for shifting the day of the celebration. This change occurred during the Desmond Hoyte administration.

Designer and former calypso monarch Winfield James told Stabroek News by telephone yesterday that he saw no problem with a solution being worked out and suggested that the celebrations in the city be moved to Monday, February 25 to accommodate Eid ul Adha. Eid is likely to be observed on the same day as the country's republic anniversary based on the sighting of the new moon.

However, float and costume band sponsor Don Gomes told Stabroek News by telephone from Canada yesterday that he was not in support of the idea mooted by the CIOG.

According to Gomes, the Muslims could organise themselves in other areas and use the other mosques such as the one in Brickdam. He said that the CIOG President, Fazeel Ferouz could not impose his views on the nation especially since they were in the minority. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, he said, should not give in to the Muslim community because they felt that Mashramani activities were vulgar.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Gail Teixeira is to raise the issue with the Mashramani Management Committee and Cabinet during the coming week.