Mash still on - Teixeira
Stabroek News
February 1, 2003
Guyanese are being urged by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira to come out and Mash on February 23 despite fears about crime.
While the date celebrates Guyana becoming a Republic it will also be the first anniversary of a brutal escape from the Camp Street jail by five dangerous criminals, setting off what has been described as the worst criminal violence in the republic's history. During their successful bid the men shot and killed prison officer, Troy Williams, and seriously wounded another officer, Roxanne Winfield. Since April last year 18 policemen have been murdered along with numerous businessmen and householders.
Many Guyanese now feel this year's Mashramani celebrations should be cancelled.
But Teixeira told reporters yesterday at her ministry that Mash was a Guyanese thing and it was a day for all to celebrate, "and we shouldn't let anyone take that away from us....There seems to be some machinery at work trying to make it appear as if Mash is not on and that it has been cancelled. Those are all rumours that are fictitious... We know that there are concerns that people have and we have had..... we are working very closely with the police and private security and so on to ensure that there are no events as much as we could possibly and humanly prevent."
She said they are particularly encouraged by young people who seem to be looking forward to the event.
"I am not worried about Mash. I could be very wrong, I could be sticking my neck on a block and have it chopped off. I am not saying that nothing is going to happen on Mash Day..........."
The minister was also concerned about an unsigned document which was circulated in and around Linden yesterday which read, "Due to the power outages in Linden the calypso quarterfinal will not be held." Twenty-six calypsonians will take part in the first leg of the competition to be held tonight in Linden.
"This is maybe just a one-off or maybe this will come during this Mash....." Teixeira said in regard to the notice and urged reporters to notify the ministry of such documents. "Although there are some problems with the Linden Power Company, the event will be going ahead. We have all the generational support to ensure that the stage and the performances are covered in case of any blackout. But we are also are getting the cooperation of the Linden Power Company and so we want to make it very clear that the quarterfinals are going ahead as scheduled...."
The `Mash Jamboree' was held in Uitvlugt and she said it "came off with a bang." The calypso semifinals will be held at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia while Anna Regina is getting ready for the finals.
This year's junior calypso competition is called the `Coca Cola Junior Calypso Competition' since Banks DIH will be sponsoring the entire competition. Arrangements for the steel pan and masquerade competitions are going ahead as planned. The masquerade will be held in Region Five at Fort Welling-ton.
The children's regional competition has started and the finals will be held in Georgetown from February 12 to 14 and the parade will be held on February 15.
The `Mash Event' will be on February 21 in the National Park where large costume bands will be competing and the flag raising and float parade on February 23. Corriverton will be holding its Mash on February 23 and Linden and Berbice will be on March 2.
The ministry is asking that no person under the age of fifteen be part of the adult bands.
In relation to sponsorship Teixeira said the business community had responded satisfactorily.
"Despite the fact that people are saying things are hard, things are difficult because of the difficult period we have had with the crime situation and so on, we are very excited about the fact that there are two major bands coming forward. The Banks DIH band called `Hits & Jams'.......... and also Carib band."
Some of the big companies on board include Demtoco, which is the largest sponsor, putting up $500,000 for the Calypso Monarch. Other companies are: Caribbean Star, who will be donating a seven- day ticket to Trinidad given to the calypso monarch; Sprint 151, Western Union, Guyana Power & Light, Universal Airlines and NP's.
The ministry has an allocation of $10M for the Mash celebration but the minister said that their budget for the entire celebration would be about $16M.
"So far our allocation looks like it is going to be okay with the kind of support coming in...", Teixeira said (Samantha Alleyne)
