REGION Four rose to the occasion and defended their title in the “Regional Presentation” category, while the little ones of Smyth Street Nursery School with their “Garden of Love” presentation, once again championed the Nursery bands category of the Children Mashramani Competition, which took place last Saturday in Georgetown.St Angela’s Primary copped the Primary bands win, and St John’s College’s bright “Queen of Hearts” presentation fittingly won the secondary school group. Mahaicony Technical Institute had a band entitled “Development through Technical Vocation” and won the “Other Children’s Organisations” division, beating out last year’s champion, National School of Dance. This year, National School of Dance finished third, coming in behind the Hinterland Scholarship Students.

Described by Children’s Mashramani Cordinator, Desiree Wyles-Ogleas, as a “spectacular show of creativity, energy and fun by the children of Guyana,” over 5000 children took part in Saturday’s spectacle of colours and culture. The procession saw over 50 costumed revelers and individual floats. Thousands others lined the streets to spectate the event.

The participants conceptualised their bands with various sub-themes under this year’s Mashramani theme, “Celebration with dignity, liberty and greater unity.” Great emphasis had also been placed on Guyana’s promotion as a “green economy”.

Participants competed in over six categories, namely: “Nursery bands”, “Primary bands”, ‘Other Children’s Organisations, “Individual Presentation,’ and ‘Regional Presentation”. Trophies were awarded for the first to third place winners of the varying categories, with some of the categories also getting cash prizes.

For the Nursery band’s first to third received $100,000, $80,000 and $60,000, respectively. For the primary bands, secondary bands, and other children oganisations the respective prizes were $120,000, $100,000 and $80,000 for first, second and third places. The individual presentations also received cash prizes.

Nursery band
First place winners – Smyth Street Nursery, though small, was a cute ray of sunshine in their floral ensemble. They finished ahead of Head Start Nursery, which marched under the theme “Gateway to a Green Economy”. Plaisance Nursery was third with their “Queen of the Forest Fairies” band for Nursery School.

Twelve Primary Schools participated in the primary bands division, and St Angela’s proved to be the best with a purple and gold, masked procession. They were indeed “A Celebration of Culture”. Second place in this category went to Graham’s Hall with “Mathematics is Fun” and third place was St Ambrose. The St Ambrose band was titled “Credit Info Guyana Inc., Inspiring Confidence”, a Secondary school Band.

The red, white and gold uniform of St John’s College winning “Queen of Hearts” presentation was very eye catching, and helped propel them to the win.

North Georgetown’s “Solar Invasion” was very intriguing but their presentation was only enough for second place. Bishop’s High was third with “Together in Freedom”.

Individual Presentations
In the “Individual Presentations”, winner Oshay Roberts and second place finisher Jayden Brooms, both sported costumes that played heavily on the “green economy” theme and colour.

Roberts’ presentation was called “Diverse Green Economy”, while Brooms entitled his presentation “Go Green, Stay Clean, Be Green”. Jenaira Browne and her “Fantasy Snow Queen” took third in this category.

Regional Presentations
In this category finishing behind Region Four was Region Three, and Region 10.