Guyana became a Republic in 1970.

The actual name of the celebration - Mashramani - was derived from an Amerindian word "Mashirimehi" which means "cooperative effort" after the first planners of the event, which included famed cricketer Basil Butcher, tried to move away from the word carnival which is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago and other parts of the world.

The celebration Mashramani originated in the mining town of Linden and was first held there over a period of three years under the guidance of the Jaycees of Linden. Approval was later granted for the festival to be made a national one, and its celebration therefore was transferred to the capital city of Georgetown.

After 1992, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport made strides to revive the festivities by concentrating on the contributions of the Private Sector.

These contributions were needed to sponsor bands to participate in the Costume Band and Float Parade competition. This entailed preparing the costumes to be worn by the participants, providing refreshments, transportation and other necessary support for Mash day.

Although Private Sector participation is not at its maximum, there are some companies, which have made valuable contributions to the Mashramani celebrations over the years. Some of the major contributors are Rayon House of Fashion, Western Union Money Transfer, Don Gomes Optical and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Limited.

The Public Sector continues to make invaluable contributions to the celebrations in which they always participate. Last year, the Float Parade showed outstanding creations by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with PAHO and the Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock.

The Culture Ministry has also worked assiduously to decentralise the celebrations. As a result, a number of Mash activities such as the Masquerade and Calypso competitions are now held in various parts of the country.

Mashramani celebrations involve the nation's children as well. For over 20 years there have been competitions for children in such categories as Costume, Drama, and Dance.

The local agent for Fern Leaf mild was the first sponsor of the Children's Costume Float Parade, which began in 1995. The Ministry of Education is looking for sponsors who will follow in the footsteps of Fern Leaf and provide sponsorship for this activity. Their parade began with approximately five hundred children and now has about five thousand.

There are a number of competitions that go along with the Mashramani celebrations yearly, the Calypso competitions, Steel Pan competitions, the Masquerade competition and more recently a Road March competition. The winners of the majority of these competitions however are not rewarded with monetary prizes.

The Road March competition has grown by leaps and bounds. Local artistes are now given a chance to enter one of their compositions for the competition. In order for the calypso to be declared a winner, it must be the most played song along the Mash route.

A number of these calypsos have already hit the airwaves in an attempt to make members of the public familiar with them. The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport also yearly selects ten such pieces. These calypsos will be recorded with the assistance of the Ministry.

The Ministry this year hosted a brunch for the Private Sector in an effort to attract investment in this Guyanese festival. The Ministry sees this opportunity as one in which many businesses may market their products.