-get a glimpse of Tourism Ministry’s colourful and creative costumes
VISITORS arriving in Guyana were yesterday treated to a special ‘Mashramani welcome’ at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara.
The annual ‘meet and greet’ exercise was a collaborative effort among the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA); management of CJIA; and Caribbean Airlines.
The welcome activity included a glimpse of colourful and creative costumes by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; steel pan music; and stilt walkers, while a children’s Mash parade was also held.
Representatives of the collaborators were on hand to greet the passengers who arrived on Caribbean Airlines flights from the United States, Canada, and Trinidad.
GTA’s Director, Indranauth Haralsingh, said the entities partnered to welcome the arrivals on this very special occasion as the nation celebrates its 41st Republican Anniversary.
He said this activity is part of a number of welcome activities for the various festivals and events in Guyana, including Christmas and Deepavali.
He said this year the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce will be out on the streets on Mash Day, participating in the medium bands category of the float parade under the theme “Flora, Fauna, Culture – Our Pride”.
The Director of GTA said they will be portraying the amazing flora and fauna of ‘Guyana – the Amazon Adventure’ such as the Victoria Amazonica, the heliconia, jaguar, harpy eagle, Cock-of-the-Rock, and black caiman; and also Guyana’s diverse culture.
Haralsingh said Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad who, unfortunately, could not have been at the airport, extends happy 41st Republic Anniversary and Mashramani greetings to all Guyanese and others visiting at this special time.
“We are out here to usher in this Mash season and to let persons know that we are celebrating as a nation after we would have achieved so much, and basically Mashramani means, celebration after hard work,” he said.
He noted that the visitors were surprised by the warm welcome since such activities do not normally happen on arrival at many international destinations.
One of the many excited incoming passengers, Magali Moreira, of Switzerland, who is here with a team to film a piece on HIV/AIDS Education for the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said, “The welcome was very good. You can really feel the warmth of Guyanese…I am very pleased to be here and to discover Guyana. (GINA)