-Minister Frank Anthony
The planning starts not long after one celebration has ended, to make sure that the next year’s Mashramani celebrations are not only bigger and better, but has a special something more. This year’s Mashramani celebrations will be no different. And Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, stressed that the attractions this year reflect a uniqueness that makes the celebration our own.
Time and time again the assertion is thrown about that the Mashramani celebrations are leaning more and more each year towards Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival.
However, Minister Anthony put these assertions to rest by pointing out the fact that each participant brings their individual something to spice up the celebrations.
“It is all these elements put together that help to make the parade even more distinguished…this combination of different groups with different ideas to celebrate our Republic is what makes it beautiful,” he said.
Minister Anthony added that there are some 30 bands registered to participate in this year’s parade.
“The costumes look great from what I have seen, lots of colour…we have a lot in store this year, many new features,” he said.
The Culture Youth and Sport Minister disclosed that a 16-member contingent from Suriname will be participating – a first time feature in the Mashramani celebrations.
Other undertakings to freshen things up, according to him, include an exclusive 50 member masquerade band coming out of Essequibo and a special band to celebrate the United Nations’ designation of 2011 as International Year for People of African Descent.
Minister Anthony said that coming back for another round will be a band of drummers, the Chinese delegation, several church bands and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) band, which is expected to hit the streets 2000-strong.
“These are the things that add flavour to the parade. The differences add new dimensions to the parade, making it unique,” he posited.

Minister Anthony observed that the celebrations for 2011 mixed several new initiatives with the traditional activities – everything from the standardized flag-raising ceremonies across the regions to the song competitions.
“There is also the regular exhibition at the National Museum and the exhibition of art at Castellani House…the public is invited to all these,” he said.
The Culture Youth and Sport Minister maintained that there is more to Mashramani that a frolicking good time to be had; rather there is the intellectual side of the celebrations, where history is delved deeper into.
Minister Anthony explained that, also part of the celebration, a symposium was held on Monday at the Umana Yana, where discussions on different aspects of Guyanese culture were advanced.
“We are looking to making this an annual activity…there are five panels and members of the public participated where they raised their questions and engaged each other, another side to the celebrations,” he said.
In all these celebratory activities, Minister Anthony said that the private sector has been very supportive, and that their participation has been supported by Government; and highlighted Republic Bank Limited and Bank DIH as major contributors this year.
“The response this year has been good….each participant, by coming out,
makes a contribution to the celebration and we are grateful for the commitment,” he said.
This year the theme for Mashramani is ‘Showcasing our culture, Sustaining our Pride’ and the Culture Youth and Sport Minister contends that the theme captures the essence promoted with the Republic celebrations.
According to Minister Anthony, Mashramani, apart from being a chance to celebrate our heritage, is a chance for retrospection as Guyanese people look to the way forward – 41 years after becoming a Republic.