The PNC REFORM (PNC/R) will hold its flag-raising ceremony on the night of February 22 at the Square of the Revolution, followed by revelling through the streets the following day in celebration of the country's republic anniversary.

Two bands will assist the PNC/R's revelling and the tramp will leave the Square of the Revolution and head for the party's headquarters at Congress Place, Sophia where a day of fun will be held. However, the party does not see this as a separate Mashramani celebration, even though it would not be part of the activities planned for February 23 by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Speaking at a press conference held at Congress Place yesterday the party's General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, in response to a question on whether the party would be holding a separate Mashramani celebration, said that his party has never done that.

He said that as a party it had always observed the republic anniversary one way or the other. According to him, for several years the party has attempted to fill the void created by the government which had discontinued the traditional flag-raising ceremony on the night of February 22.

As a result the party would hold a flag-raising ceremony at the Square of the Revolution and a cultural extravaganza and a speech by the leader of the party, Desmond Hoyte, would precede this. The next day the party's two bands will leave the square at 8 am.

PNC/R executive Dr Faith Harding said that the revellers would not be wearing costumes, just headdresses in the party's colours. She said that the fun day at the party's headquarters will end at 1 am.

Reacting to the PNC/R decision, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira told the Government Information Agency that she was disappointed at the move. "It's a disappointment because we are in discussions at the political level between the President (Bharrat Jagdeo) and the Leader of the Opposition (PNC/R leader Hoyte); there has been very good bipartisan discussions and it is unfortunate that in our major national cultural festival, this is not being reflected on the day itself", she said.