Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, said on a tour of Mash Camps around the city Friday, that this year’s Mashramani celebrations will be much improved.
The tour began with a stop at mobile telecommunications giant Digicel’s   Barrack Street location, where local designer Olympia Small-Soneram was busy as the proverbial bee, overseeing preparations.
An impressed Anthony said that the red, pink, green and yellow hibiscus and the yellow and black bumblebee floats were an interesting concept. The individual costumes numbering over a 100 had also been completed and he lauded the company’s early finish.
Head of Marketing of Digicel (Guyana), Ms. Jacqueline James, said that all the costumes have already been assigned and the respective owners will come and get dressed at the camp, which will be open from as early as 6:00 a.m. on Mashramani day.
The next stop was the Carib Beer Mash Camp on Robb Street, where 200 costumes in the company’s corporate colour scheme of yellow and blue were under construction. Preparations of the float also depicted a giant hand holding a bottle. The band features a King and Queen. Small-Soneram was also overseeing along with Burrowes School of Arts Graduate Brian DaSilva. Anthony described the floats and costumes as “impressive”.
Minister of Public Service, Dr Jennifer Westford, was still putting the “ministerial touches” on her costumes when Anthony dropped in. The colourful green and silver coloured costumes were made with an environmental concept.
The 50 costumes included as accessories special hats and shoes designed by the minister. One hat depicting light – a helmet with a light bulb that actually lit – brought smiles to the faces of all those who saw it. Westford said that the Public Service Ministry’s float will portray a “green” building where the walls will be Plexiglas and the roof will be a sun roof.
The final stop was at ‘Cole Facts’ on Garnett St.  where preparations were under way for a 500-strong Banks DIH contingent. Designer Michelle Cole-Rose and husband Trevor Rose proudly unveiled the flamboyant red and gold theme costumes which drew appreciative smiles and comments from those present. A delighted Anthony proclaimed that this Mashramani would be “The battle of the Beers”.
Sales and Marketing Executive of Banks DIH, Mr. Carlton Joao, stated at the event that Banks, which has been around “… as long as Guyana has been”, has grown along with the country. The band also features a King and Queen of the band.
Mashramani 2010 is being celebrated under the theme “Embracing our Diversity, Celebrating our Heritage”.