MINISTER of Culture, Youth,and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, yesterday outlined plans and progress of the 2011 Mashramani festivities at a press conference held in the Ministry’s boardroom at Main Street in Georgetown. Mashramani 2011 was launched at the Umana Yana on  October 15 last year under the theme: “Showcasing our culture; Sustaining our pride”, and was kick-started with the Groovy Soca Monarch semi-finals on 20 November last at the Aracari Resort.  This major national festival will culminate with a presentation ceremony billed for 4 March at the Umana Yana.
Giving an overview, Minister Anthony informed the media that the several sub-committees have made great progress in the several programmes planned since work commenced last year subsequent to the formal launch of the festival.
The four traditional song competitions, according to the minister, would be held as usual, with minor variations, which include the expansion of the health song competition from the HIV/AIDS theme to incorporate wider health issues.
This was done at the request of the Ministry of Health.  The Chutney and Calypso Senior and Junior categories would remain, with Banks DIH sponsoring the Calypso song competitions, which would have a semi-final and a final.
The bands for the competitions have been identified, auditions have been done, and rehearsals have started. The Chutney is traditionally a one-off competition and, if no corporate sponsor is found, will be funded by the Ministry of Culture.
Republic Bank has, once again, committed to sponsor the steel pan competition for the 4th year running.  Music scores for this competition have already been distributed to the bands that have registered.  This competition will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday 13 February. To encourage this art form, the ministry has engaged the services of a coordinator and four part-time steel pan music teachers, who have been working with several schools and communities, with the expectation of greater participation in this year’s steel band competition.
Minister Anthony said that, in light of the waning of interest in the “bright-up Guyana” competition, the sub-committee has re-formatted the event with a view to reviving participation by more private sector entities and institutions in the competition, which he described as an “integral part of Mash” that was formulated with the objective of creating the spirit of Mash through decorative features and creative lighting in their establishments.  The winners of this event are awarded trophies in various categories.
Interest in participation in the masquerade bands competition has also waned over the years, resulting in no competition in that category in 2010, and the ministry has put several measures in place to resuscitate this art form so that there is a resurgence of this traditional celebratory feature.
Dr. Anthony extolled the success achieved by the Pomeroon Oil Mills in Essequibo in sustaining a dynamic competition of masquerade bands in that county for the past three years and said that the coordinator of the Essequibo masquerade band competition is currently the chairman/convenor of the national masquerade band competition.
The ministry has had a number of workshops countrywide to ensure that this traditional art form does not “dwindle and disappear.”
In relation to the float parade, Minister Anthony expressed his disappointment with the lukewarm and unenthusiastic response by the private sector. From in excess of 100 business enterprises being invited aboard, only a few responded positively.   He hoped that this would change shortly.  He said that, traditionally, 20 – 30 bands participate in the Mash float parade, with last year drawing the biggest parade ever, with 40 floats.
According to the minister, for this year in excess of 25 organisations have confirmed their participation, but he has expressed optimism that more will come onboard, as there is yet time for this to materialize.
TARGETING NEW COMPANIES
He said he is targeting new, non-traditional companies in an effort to encourage them to participate in the national festival.
However, he was pleased with the response of young designers, who have been innovative in creating unique designs from local materials, which were showcased during exhibitions that they have held earlier.
They are also offering affordable packages to companies to incorporate this in their Mash activities.  The minister considers this to be “…going in the right direction.”
He said tax-breaks are given to designers who wish to import materials to create costumes, although only one designer has expressed interest so far.
He indicated that the traditional bands will have huge contingents.
The minister highlighted the other traditional events, which include the Children’s Costume Parade, the traditional flag-raising ceremony at Parliament, with regional bodies also hoisting the national flag, and the plans for these activities are already in place.
Some non-traditional events would see the introduction of a ‘Republic of Guyana’ lecture, with the presenting professor already identified.
Within the school system, and as part of the celebratory activities, competitions in art, literature and other activities will be held in individual schools.
The portrayal of some of the most popular cultural Guyanese ceremonies would also be a new feature of the Mash celebrations, because, as Dr. Anthony opines, this would help to “…create better tolerance in our society”.
“This year we would be working very hard to have some of those ceremonies performed and explained so that people can understand the different elements of these ceremonies,” Dr. Anthony told reporters.
The minister expressed his pleasure at the progress being made with the activities and preparations all across Guyana – at central and regional levels, with participation from all the regions.
Ms Desiree Whyles, convener of the children’s activities through the Ministry of Education, said that all the regions will be participating in the nursery, primary and secondary levels.
Children’s activities will include dance and masquerade competitions, calypso and dramatic poetry, costume competition, with most regions participating in the regional parades for children, with some schools having individual activities.
Regional competitions have already started and are due for conclusion on 10 February, with finals slated to be held in Georgetown from 17 – 19 February.  The parade is billed for the 19th, starting from the Parade Ground and ending at the National Park.  Corporate sponsors from the various regions have been invited, and some have responded favourably, to invest in the participation of the schools in their communities so that they can overcome their financial constraints and participate fully in the Mash activities.
According to Ms Whyles, responses indicate a bigger children’s parade this year.  Banks and Digicel have confirmed sponsorship of this event.
Minister Anthony said the activities are also being used as an educational and interactive tool, in that children and members of the PTA design the decorative features and the costumes themselves, instead of depending on professional designers.
Mr. Carlton Joao, Sales and Marketing Executive of Banks DIH Ltd, said the company has been bombarded with requests to continue its winning streak as consecutive champs.
He stressed that Banks DIH is a Guyanese company supporting Guyanese culture, and that the corporate giant, which will be celebrating its 55th year as Banks DIH, has played a significant role in making this national event a success.
The Banks executive said that the company makes tremendous efforts to showcase local talent, with the highly-successful Banks Brewery Soca Monarch competition coming onstream since last year.  According to Mr. Joao, much talent emerged from that.
This year, apart from the company’s massive Mash camp, which he boasts will have a contingent of 300 strong,
Banks DIH will also be sponsoring several children’s events, as well as the calypso senior and junior competitions, which he enthused as the rebirth and regrowth of this unique art of storytelling.  He invited everyone to the finals, which are slated for the 19th February at Thirst Park.
Another innovative production that Banks DIH will be introducing to the Mash activities is Maria Edwards-Benschop’s ‘Best of Nothing to Laugh About’.  The young producer, who has seen tremendous countrywide response to her comedic productions, is elated to be part of the Banks DIH family.
“Nothing to laugh about 4” is slated for the National Cultural Centre on 4th, 5th, and 6th February.  However, Maria says that corporate sponsors such as Banks DIH have sustained her productions and have encouraged her to continue.  This latest semi-partnership, according to Maria, will give a further boost to local talent.
The minister, responding to a question from the media, said that, although there is a special calendar of events to celebrate the UN’s designated ‘Year of People of African Ancestry’,  a nexus can be drawn between Mashramain activities and some of the events that are programmed for February, which includes the launch of a book that deals with slavery in Guyana.The book  bears the actual testimony of slaves from between 1820 to 1823.
Minister Anthony said that there will also be a strong Chinese contingent this year.  There will also be exhibitions at the National Museum and Castellani House.  He gave assurance that, wherever private sector sponsorship is not forthcoming, the ministry will sponsor the event.

ORIGIN OF MASHRAMANI
The Arawak Amerindian word ‘Mashirimehi’, which means “co-operative effort”, is considered the antecedent of Mashramani.
The Jaycees of Linden had, since Guyana became independent in 1966, been organizing an Independence Carnival in Mackenzie. When Guyana became a Republic in February 1970, they formed a Jaycees Republic Celebrations Committee. Basil Butcher was selected as Chairman but, due to his being selected to tour Australia with the West Indies cricket team, Jim Blackman was appointed as the deputy to carry on. A broad-based committee, including resource personnel such as Wordsworth McAndrew, Arthur Seymour, and Adrian Thompson, began the organization of the Carnival activities.
The search for a name to replace ‘Carnival’ began and it was suggested by Basil Butcher that an Amerindian name be chosen. This was agreed to and several individuals, including Mr. Allan Fiedtkou, an Amerindian, were contacted. Mr. Fiedtkou held discussions with his grandfather, who explained a type of festival that was held by Amerindians whenever they gather to celebrate a special event. This event, he said, was like “muster many” (or Mashirimehi in Amerindian) and sounded in Arawak like Mashramani. Steps were taken to confirm this. Adrian Thompson concluded that, since no one could have confirmed or denied that the Arawak word for festival was Mashramani, then the festival could be called Mashramani. On 23 February 1970 the festival called “Mashramani” was a huge success, with people drawn from all regions of Guyana to Linden, welcoming Guyana’s status as a republic with over three days of frolic and fun.
This amazing and innovative initiative catalyzed a national dynamic after Mr. David Singh, a government Official, held discussions with the Jaycees Committee in relation to bringing the event to Georgetown, the nation’s capital. Subsequently, the festival became a national celebration during which people travel from miles out of town to participate.
Mash Day depicts a hive of activity from Vlissingen and Irving Street all the way to the National Park as thousands of people take the revelry to the streets in a truly Guyanese celebration of freedom.