‘SHOWCASING Our Culture, Sustaining our Pride’, is next year’s Mashramani theme unveiled at a ceremonial launch at the Umana Yana Friday evening. The theme, written by Marcia Washington, portrays a proud nation with a rich cultural heritage. The evening’s event was ushered in with a costume and float parade, accompanied by the rhythms of a steel band, moving from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport on Main Street, to the Umana Yana, Kingston.
At the launch, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony said this year’s event is better organised.
He charged all stakeholders to take responsibility for the various art forms, adding that the Ministry has been working towards an improved festival.

Minister Anthony encouraged private sector partnership and urged NGOs to come on board, noting the benefits of being associated with the largest Guyanese festival, where all Guyanese can be reached.
“In order to demonstrate the sense of national pride and patriotism, citizens must get involved and decorate their homes, businesses and those non- traditional places, such as churches and schools are also encouraged to get involved,” Minister Anthony said.
Among the items to be featured is the introduction of essay and art competitions for schools.
Minister Anthony also highlighted the need for materials that people can relate to after the celebrations would have finished. As part of this year’s package of legacy products, a Mashramani magazine was published by Guyana Entertainment Magazine (GEM), and the Ministry will stand the expense of putting together Mashramani song discs. These authentic Guyanese products will be made available for both local and overseas patrons.

Apart from the fun and frolic associated with the festival, the Minister announced the Ministry’s plan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, to change the name of the HIV song competition to Health competition. This is in order to not only get the message of HIV out to the public, but to inform persons of other chronic non- communicable diseases bothering the population.

Next year’s competition will be broadened to include songs about these diseases.
According to Dr. James Rose, Director of Culture, Mashramani is the way of celebrating an important political and cultural institution and its importance cannot be disputed; so all Guyanese should seek to make this event a national commitment.
Mash 2011 will mark Guyana’s 41st Republic anniversary. (GINA)