Corporate Mash fever growing.
over 50 contingents likely
(By Mondale Smith)
Kaieteur News
January 20, 2007
Mash 2007 may be 42 days away, but from the look of things, most of corporate Guyana will be out in their glory.
Word from Mash Coordinator Lennox Canterbury is that this year will definitely be a cultural invasion with lots of colour, creativity, and participation.
He added, “As opposed to 36 participating bands last year, more than 50 application forms for companies and designers have been uplifted from the secretariat. More large bands are definitely going to be on the road than normal.”
The closing date for written indication of participation in the float parade is February 10.
There will not be any Rotunda down the road on February 23 from Banks DIH, neither would there be a Hits and Jams contingent, as both opted out of the big band mainstream float parade this year.
GT&T – bringing Blue Power
Disc Jockey Kerwin Bollers said, “Hits and Jams will not be participating in the costume parade this year.” He said, however, that all is not lost as he has channelled his energies in the direction of ensuring a massive ‘Blue Power' presence through corporate citizen Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.
Wearing the Coordinator cap for GT&T, Bollers said that at the weekend the GT&T Mash camp will get underway on Brickdam. Creative and artistic direction will come from designers Derrick Moore and Olympia Sunnaram.
He decline to comment on the size of the band, but said that all other details would be known at the costume band launching next Sunday at Thirst Park .
“We coming really big and blue.”
Carib- painting the city Yellow and Blue
Nigel Worrell, Carib's Marketing Assistant, confirmed that Carib will continue its tradition of involvement in several aspects of Mash, including the Carib Soca Monarch competition.
“We will definitely be on the road on February 23 in true Yellow and Blue style,” he said.
Holding back on the intricate details, he said that they will be painting the road yellow and blue as is customary, but it will be much bigger this time. The rest, he says, would be known at the official band launching on February 2.
Marketing Director Troy Cadogan also confirmed Carib's participation.
New Faces
Umobile/Digicel
Officials of U-mobile/Digicel are mum on the size of their participation, as they want to be really dynamic. As at yesterday, they were in the process of brain storming. One official made one thing clear. “We are definitely coming down the road full costume on Mash Day.”
Digicel's Marketing Director told this publication that Guyana can look forward to an excellent show from Umobile/Digicel for Guyana , its customers, and its potential customers.
He further made it clear that Mash is not just about Digicel/Umobile and GT&T. It's about Guyana as a whole.
Facts and Roses – fire storming
Michelle Cole and Trevor Rose are known for their individual creations, but as a husband and wife team, they have told this publication that they are going to give Guyana the Facts N Roses with a 600-strong full costume contingent on Mash Day.
“We will be launching in two weeks' time, and when we do, Guyana can expect a ‘Fire Storm.' Most recently, the Roses were in talks with some sponsors to add to those they had already secured.
Star Guyana
Hot on the heels of staging Guyana 's first television reality show, one can look forward to the 200-plus participants to be in full costume on Mash Day. Star Guyana 's PRO, Alex Wayne, said that the management team is at present working out the details. “Management has already met with officials of the Mash Secretariat, but integral to our participation is sponsorship, which we are working on at present.”