Children mash on National Park tarmac
Stabroek News
February 16, 2003
Young revellers from across the country took to the tarmac of the National Park yesterday morning delighting a huge audience for over three hours as part of the Mashramani Children's Costume Parade.
The parade which usually takes to the streets of Georgetown before making its way into Independence Park saw a change of venue this year in the light of the current crime situation. According to a senior official in the Education ministry the decision to relocate was taken out of concern for the children's safety. And the official added that the choice of the National Park as the venue was unanimous, since other activities had been staged there earlier.
Over eighty schools participated in the parade which saw creative, original and unique costumes. Though the judges failed to announce the winners for the costumed bands competition, a few contestants emerged crowd favourites and are expected to take top honours.
Marian Academy's 'El Dorado under the sun' was dubbed the most impressive costume by numerous onlookers. The costume colourfully depicted the lost city of EL Dorado.
The costume had won the 14-17 group costume in the Annual Mashramani competition for Georgetown schools and had gone on to win 14-17 group costume in the national finals of the costume competition.
St Stephen's Primary and their costume 'Recipe for peace' also found favour with the audience. The costume depicted the ingredients that are needed in developing a better Guyana. Love, peace and unity were the main ingredients. It had also won the 11-13 group costume competitions in Georgetown and the national finals.
Other costumes which were admired included Unification of Guyana' from St Margaret's Primary, 'Biting insect' from Craft Production and Designs, 'Uniting the separated' from the Sacred Heart Primary and 'Peace, love and harmony, let us unite our country' from the the hinterland.
