Pyrotechnics fire up independence birthday bash
By Iana Seales
Stabroek News
May 27, 2004
It's almost there is what Minister of Culture, Gail Teixeira (right) could be saying to President Bharrat Jagdeo (second from right) as they observe the Golden Arrowhead being hoisted at the National Park on Tuesday night. Also in photo from left are Firs
Guyana threw its birthday bash on Tuesday night to usher in 38 years as an independent nation and thousands gathered to celebrate at the National Park.
Under the theme `Cultural diversity', the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport held the annual Flag Raising ceremony which culminated with dazzling fireworks compliments of Clico Life and General Insurance Co (SA) Ltd.
Drums, dances and a musical explosion created the ambience for the evening. Government dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, calypsonians, youths and well-wishers all paid homage to Guyana.
The park was packed to capacity after the cultural show kicked off at 7:30 pm with a live music performance by the Dax New Generation Band. Steel band music followed and tranquillity suffused the park for a short while.
Conga Nya drummers from Berbice then rapped their way into the audience's heart with pulsating African rhythms and segued into Carib Soca Monarch finalist Michelle King's performance of `Bacchanal fever'.
These lasses were shaking to various rhythms during the flag raising ceremony on Tuesday. (Photo by Ken Moore)
Several of the night's musical renditions failed to impact on the crowd due to a malfunctioning public address system but the local calypsonians proved social commentary has little to do with a piece of equipment.
With vigour and the calypso mastery for which he is known, Lord Canary exploded with his piece, `A woman is a woman'. And the newly crowned calypso queen Lady Tempest picked up where he left off.
Tempest had more than a storm brewing in the park with her crown-winning `Don't dis my ability'. And the audience wanted more.
Then it was over to the Joint Services as the guard of honour marched on. Decked out in their ceremonial uniforms the men and women of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force entered the park at 10:10 pm and put on an impressive show.
Moving in simultaneity they transformed the tarmac into a drill spectacle.
Then came the Prime Minister followed by the President. The President - resplendent in a cream suit - gave his address to the nation at 10:50 pm and local performer Miriam Williams followed with a stirring performance of "We can stop the hate".
But the Independence party really started at 10:20 pm when the Ministry of Culture staged a presentation dubbed `Celebrating our diversity'. Legends and folk tales were portrayed in the presentation by the use of costumes depicting animals in the forest, fabric and sound effects that brought alive waterfalls and rivers.
Over 500 youths from diverse parts of the country, schools and communities rehearsed together for the presentation, a true reflection of unity in diversity.
The Massakoura Man and Old Higue were depicted in the legends and in the end, the dances came together as one and all moved to Cyd Hooper's `Linking up'. The park could not get enough of the presentation when it ended sometime after.
Performers were drawn from Mae's Primary, School of the Nations, the Torana Dance Troupe, ABC Academy, the Nadira and Indranie Shah dance troupe, Mystique Dance Troupe, the National School of Dance, the Hinterland Students Association, the President's Youth Award Republic of Guyana and the Terpsichorean Dance Troupe.
The Conga Nya drummers were joined by King's Tassa Troupe, Fire in the land, Cabaca and the Jokers is Wild drummers to culminate the presentation.
The applauded presentation was choreographed by several persons including Vivienne Daniels of the National Dance School.
The Golden Arrowhead was hoisted at 11.55 pm and the GDF Band with the Joint Services Choir then led the audience with a performance of `Guyana the free'. They followed on with the National Anthem.
At midnight Clico took over the proceedings and delivered a pyrotechnic spectacle people could not get enough of. Hundreds raved about the display calling it `truly magnificent'.
Clico (SA) General Manager, Gita Singh told Stabroek News after the display that the company is all for unity and saw the fireworks as a fitting gift to the nation. She added that Clico intends to continue holding the display at the Flag Raising Ceremony.
In previous years the Government held the fireworks display at the annual ceremony but Clico stepped in this year and offered to stage the show.
The company spent close to US$25,000 for the display and brought in a team from Trinidad to put on the show, Singh said, with the help of the Ministry of Culture and the GDF.
She said that an even better show will be planned for next year.