AN atmosphere of love, brotherhood, unity and joy pervaded the Essequibo township of Anna Regina on Sunday, February 23, as thousands of Essequibians, all dressed up in gaudy clothing, flocked the community centre ground to participate in the feisty celebration of Mashramani Essequibo-style.

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, accompanied by Region 2 Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud and Vice Chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo, started off the float parade from Three Friends village in the south of the coast just after 10.30 am. Hundreds of ecstatic revellers swarmed the float parade, which proceeded slowly along the public road, drawing hundreds of excited well-wishers out of their homes to line the public road as they watched the beautiful floats pass by with their concomitant revellers.

These, dressed in brightly coloured and dazzling costumes, eagerly competed with each other in spontaneous dancing competitions as the sweet sound of catchy soca music blared from huge boom boxes mounted on trucks wending their way along the public road to the commercial centre of the town.

Among the floats on show were those from Capoey village, which displayed “bush doctor”; the Department of Education, Regional Administration, Vish Turbo Contracting Services, Jaigobin’s Supermarket, the Ministry of Health (Suddie Hospital),

New Opportunity Corps, Walton Hall Sports Club, Essequibo Technical Institute, and Anna Regina Multilateral School.

The atmosphere was euphoric as the floats entered the commercial centre of the township of Anna Regina. Hundreds of residents, some clutching eager children, flocked the High Bridge to get an advantageous view of the float parade and its accompanying revelry. And hundreds more lined both sides of the parade route to watch the spectacular road show as it passed through their village.

A celebratory atmosphere, enhanced by the blaring of catchy music and the laughter and rejoicing of a large but relaxed crowd, pervaded the community centre ground as the floats entered and their revellers hotly competed for top prizes by ‘strutting their stuff’.

It was carnival in Essequibo during the latter part of that auspicious Sunday, as Guyanese of all races and from all walks of life shed their inhibitions and did their thing to celebrate the country’s 44th Republic Anniversary.

(By Rajendra Prabhulall)