Blue Power and Firestorm clash in Mash parade
Guyana Chronicle
February 24, 2007
FIRESTORM and Blue Power reigned supreme at Mashramani Day in what was clearly commercial warfare as the country’s two largest telecommunications providers, Digicel and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) continue a dogged fight to win the hearts of consumers.
The Firestorm clan roped in newly crowned Soca monarch Malo and his rival Adrian Dutchin to chant their “Firestorm” jingle in an attempt to sink long-timer GT&T during the country’s costume and float parade which blanketed the Church and Irving city streets to the National Park.
Guyana’s celebration of 37 years as a Republic ultimately ended up in a clash between the two cellular providers, with Irish-owned Digicel, which launched less than two weeks ago, hoping to snatch GT&T customers with its US$60M investment and lots of super deals on cell phones.
GT&T stayed with its old partners, putting Fusion International DJ Kerwin Bollers to lead a bevy of gorgeous ladies including Timeka Marshall and Celeste David to energize a mass parade of Blue Power revellers.
Ace designer Derek Moore pulled a giant globe, the symbol of GT&T’s cellular brand Cellink, surrounded by symbols of international destinations it provides cellular “roaming” to.
Moore, a solid winner at designing stunning floats, used paper plates to create the globe, totally in blue, and he surrounded it with a family of Giraffes (Africa), The Statue of Liberty (USA), the Eiffel Tower (Europe), and a colossal Dragon (Asia). Accompanying him were stilt men (one of whom fell to the ground along the route) and a “Big Momma” and what seemed like a “Big Papa” creating a real spirit of ecstatic revelry befitting Mashramani.
Moore, who teamed up with the sassy Olympia Small-Sonaram to create GT&T’s Blue Power band herself led the way, pulling a giant peacock to depict, as Moore said, “how proud GT&T is of its accomplishments in the Guyana market.”
Digicel’s Firestorm proved to be lukewarm. While generating much hype, it failed to match up to GT&T, both in float design and the energetic frolicking that was desired.
The dragon created by the Michelle Cole and Trevor Rose duo failed to spit its figurative fire (and we might add, literal fire, as well) along the route. International Guyanese designer Mr. Roger Gary was all too thrilled to come back home to join his friend Cole to outdo GT&T, and he seemed to have a good time dragging the giant sun.
However, Digicel’s contingent was not as large as GT&T’s, though it added brilliant colours of red and gold to liven up the streets away from the domineering blue of GT&T.
Most of the other floats focused on various themes. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport made a brave attempt to display the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, which will host the Quarter Final matches of Cricket World Cup 2007 from March 28.
In addition, Don Gomes, who usually comes out with unusual costumes, this year only chose to wear a placard that read “Cricket, Lovely Cricket!” Alongside him was comedian Habeeb Khan, who carried a cricket bat almost as tall as he is.
Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud made sure that his float had a cow, a pig, a chicken, and other livestock, as he attempted to show the forward thrust of his ministry towards diversifying the agriculture sector.
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy showcased a gamut of messages in his ensemble. His band dealt with the AIDS fight, and Coordinator Ms. Jennifer Ganesh was dressed in an old European-style dress that depicted the need for “faithfulness” in relationships.
Various church groups were also among those who displayed floats and costumes along the Mash route.
True to the theme of “A Cultural Invasion in 2007”, the various bands played a refreshing blend of both Soca and Chutney music and the revellers indulged themselves with abandon.
Intermittent showers during the day failed to dampen the spirit of the thousands of Guyanese who lined the city streets to get a glimpse of the floats and costumes. (Neil Marks)