STEEL PAN PLAYER Colgrain Whyte shows off his trophies and medals after the prize-giving ceremony. (Picture by Delano Williams)
MASHRAMANI 2003 was incident-free, Mr. Keith Booker, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport, reported when he addressed the prize-giving ceremony at the Umana Yana in Georgetown Friday evening.

Booker said this year's participants had worked their way to excellence.

Mash Coordinator Mr. Lennox Canterbury in his report noted that Mash 2003 was formally launched on September 20, 2002 with its theme, 'United Are We In Mash 2003'. Entries for this year's slogan had come from various regions, he said.

Canterbury pointed out that the Mash Committee had attempted to take Mash throughout Guyana, but because of insufficient funding, the body was unable to plan events in several interior locations.

He acknowledged all the persons who worked hard to make this year's Mashramani celebration a success.

Ms. Gail Teixeira, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, thanked the Mash Committee, (which comprised persons from the various regions), media personnel, private sector representatives and the Mayor and City Council for their contributions to this year's celebrations.

According to Ms. Teixeira, in 1999 the Culture Ministry planned to make Mash a national event within five years. Four years later, half of the population now participates in the festival, she said.

She appealed once again to the business community for greater involvement in sponsoring contests such as the steel pan and calypso competitions.

The minister also invited more agencies and citizens to register for the Illuminated Buildings competition, noting that while many buildings had been decorated for Mash, several had not been registered.

"Mash expresses pride, dignity and the true beliefs of the Guyanese people," the minister said.

She announced that her ministry's next goal is to market Mash abroad and to link it with the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.

This would be another step on the road to regional integration, Teixeira noted.

The winning entries were:

'Umbrella Party' by Compton Hodge won the Mash 2003 Road March prize.

Rayon House of Fashion was awarded the title of Band of the Year, while Deryck Moore was named Best Designer for his Queen in the band featured by the Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock.

The title for the Best Regional Band was awarded to Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), while the Best Regional Designer was Maurice Morian of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport gained second place in the Costume Band and Float Parade (Large Band), while third place went to 'Carib/Royal Stout', fourth place to 'Hits and Jams', and fifth place to 'Lifeline Counselling'.

In the Medium Band category, Region Three gained the top spot, while Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) was placed second.

In the Small Band category, the first place went to the Ministry of Health/AIDS Secretariat, while the five other awards were made to bands from Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Region Six, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), and the Friendship Hotel.

Winners in the Semi-costume (Large) category were the Ministry of Education, first; Guess Boyz Sounds, second; GAWU, third and DIDCO Trading, fourth.

In the Small category of the Semi-costume bands, the Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock took the first spot. Second was Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); third, the Government Information Agency (GINA); fourth, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); fifth, Ace Photo Studio; sixth, the Family Planning Association and, seventh, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association.

Rayon House of Fashion took another first in the Commercial Float, followed by Carib/Royal Stout, second; Guess Boyz Sounds, third; Ace Photo Studio, fourth; Friendship Hotel and Rest Holdings, fifth and in sixth spot was DIDCO Trading.

In the Non-Commercial section, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport was placed first; GINA, second; Region Two, third, and the University of Guyana, fourth.

In the Individual Costume King contest, Region Six came first followed by Rayon House of Fashion, second; Region Four, third; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, fourth; Lifeline Counselling, fifth and Region Three, sixth.

Winners of the Individual Queen contest were: Ministry of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, first; Rayon House of Fashion, second; Hits and Jams, third; Regions Six and 10, fourth; Ministry of Culture, sixth; Carib/Royal Stout, seventh.

The first place in the Male Individual Costume contest was awarded to the Ministry of Health/AIDS Secretariat; second was Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); third Region Three, and fourth Carib/Royal Stout.

Female Individual Costume contest winners were: Region Five, first; Region Three, second; Region Two, third; and Carib/Royal Stout, fourth.

In the Masquerade Band competition, first place went to Region Three with 'Kabaca'; second to Region Four with 'Joker is Wild'; third to Region 10 with 'Fire in the Land'; fifth to Region Two with 'Village Ram', sixth to 'Uprising' from Region Two and seventh to Region Five with 'Uptown Ranglers'.

The Best Music Band winner was Region Three with 'Kabaca'; second was Region 10 with 'Torch' and third, Region Four with 'Joker is Wild'.