Regional finals an unqualified success
–Education Minister pleased schools, children need little encouragement to participate in national activities
THE regional finals of the Children’s Mashramani Competition came off with a bang at the National Cultural Centre yesterday morning. The activities were graced with the presence of Education Minister, Priya Manikchand who, during her address, lauded the initiative thus far, and said the competition plays an integral part in nation-building through children and their skills, talents and abilities.
“Children have a right to participate in nation-building, and we believe [we] have a duty [to] provide the environment [in which they] could realize that right. And so we take great pleasure in hosting activities such as these, to give our children the opportunity to exercise their right in positive ways in our country.”
According to Minister Manickchand, the Guyana Government continuously tries to
provide opportunities for children to unearth hidden talent. The minister said competitions such as these pave the way for children to generally exercise their rights in several different areas, which include dance, poetry and dramatic pieces, among other things.
The minister said she is pleased that children and schools need little persuasion from anyone to participate in these national activities.
“We try very hard to make activities children-friendly, and so this is the continuation of many years of work (wherein) we (provided) opportunities for children all across this country to exercise this right; and what I’m more happy about is that we don’t need to persuade children in these activities, but we see such exuberance and anxiety to get on the programme.”
Minister Manikchand also applauded the efforts of the schools for travelling such long distances to participate in the finals.
According to her, this kind of cooperation in activities is what builds a firm and productive nation. She said all 10 regions of the country were represented at the finals, and that many children were coming from schools in the hinterland.
“I applaud the effort of the schools to bring the children here, and I wish to congratulate the participants who did make it to the finals.”
Minister Manickchand explained that the Allied Arts Department of the Education Ministry has been working to assist children in enhancing their skills in the area of theatrical arts.
“We have to do more than academic work; and, this year, we have the entire Allied Arts Department that is working on such academics. It is activities like these and programmes like these that will help you to do good in your life academically.”
Additionally she pointed out that government, through its continued efforts, has been working to provide a wider range of resources to strengthen and develop the upcoming generation.
She urged teachers and students to make full use of the recently established Learning Channel, which she deemed one of the most recent avenues of acquiring an education.
“You would know that, recently, not so long ago, we started the Guyana Learning Channel, and we are pleased that these programmes are not limited to Georgetown or Region 4… It means we are going to be capable of (taking) this to all across Guyana. And I urge you to pay attention to the channel; we did this to ensure that you can have a wider range of resources from which you could learn.”
She further urged the general public to come out and support the activities that have been planned for Mashramani 2012.
“Join us and be a part of the National Parade on Saturday, the Government of Guyana is making a lot of investment into this, and we are asking you to enjoy the efforts that are being put into this, because we believe that this can contribute to your development.”
Meanwhile, National Allied Arts Unit Coordinator, Mrs. Desiree Wyles-Ogle said she was pleased with the level of student participation in the Mashramani Competition. According to Ogle, this comes at a time when some students and participants are preparing to sit the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination and are doing Theatre Arts as a subject.
“This is to provide an opportunity for the display of talent, and also to provide the opportunity to students who are doing this subject for SSEE to use these displays and their pieces for their SBA.”

COMPETITION AND RESULTS
Yesterday’s regional competition saw participants dancing under four different categories in the following age groups: the 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-17 age groups.
Unlike the district competition, the participants weren’t judged under the various categories of dance: Legends and Tradition, Social Commentary, Religious beliefs and interpretive, Ring games children play.
In the 5-7 category, Regma Primary from Region 10 took  first place after captivating the judges with their performance to ‘Guyanese play time’(Ring games children play).
Mocha-Arcadia Primary came second doing a piece to ‘Mash Wave’ (Interpretive); and Sophia Primary took the third place dancing to ‘Expressions of love’ (Religious Belief). Both schools are from Region 4 district.
In first place under the 8-10 category was Georgetown’s Green Acres Primary, doing a piece called ‘Our wedding’ (Legends and Tradition). Coming in second was Two Miles Primary from Region 7, performing to ‘Mash Flare’ (Interpretive). Taking third in that category was Mainstay Lake Primary from Region 2, doing ‘the Curri-Curi Dance’ (Legends and Tradition).
Under the Masquerade Competition in the 8-10 category, North Georgetown Primary took home the winning title performing as ‘City Flouncers’. Mackenzie Primary of Region 10 placed second doing ‘Live wire’, and Aurora Primary of Region 2 came in third doing ‘Flouncing Band’.

In the 11-13 age group, Region 4’s Karisma Charles of the Richard Ishmael Secondary, doing an individual performance, copped first place doing ‘Testimony’ (Religious beliefs).
In second place was Renae Douglas of Three Miles Secondary in Region 7, who danced to a piece titled, ‘African Pride Guyanese Style’ (Interpretive).
Taking third was Anna Regina Secondary, represented by Pujas Boodhoo, doing a piece titled ‘Magical Art Forms of India’ (Legends and Tradition).
Under the 11-13 group dances, Richard Ishmael Secondary once again copped first place doing ‘Mash fever’ (interpretive). Zeeburg Secondary placed second with their dance titled ‘Unhindered worship’ (religious belief); and taking third was Three Miles Secondary doing ‘Guyanese Flair’ (interpretive).
For the 11-13 Masquerade competition, Jamel Broomes of Winfer Garden Primary placed first in the individual performance, followed by Jermeian Sam of the New Amsterdam Secondary. Placing third was Ryan Bramble of the Mahaicony Primary.
In the 11-13 group Masquerade performances, Mackenzie Primary with ‘The Ramblers’ took first place; ‘New Amsterdam Secondary with ‘Pulsating inferno’ took second, and Huis’t Dieren Primary with ‘Flouncing parade’ placed third.
In the 14-17 individual dance piece, BV Secondary of Region 4 was named winner for performing to ‘Tanavi’. The school was represented by Namdamie Bhisain. Following close behind was St. Winefride’s Secondary, with Tiana Codrigton doing ‘Struggle’; and in third place was Roshanie Randolph of the Zeeburg Secondary.
In the 14-17 group dances, East Ruimveldt Secondary copped first place doing a piece to ‘shattered dreams’ (Social Commentary); Wisburg Secondary took second spot doing ‘Mash Spirit’, and Three Miles Secondary placed third.
Under the 14-17 Masquerade competition individual performances, Tutorial High’s Keon Warren took home the prize for his school with a lively performance titled ‘Flouncing down the road’. Buxton Secondary represented by Kimberly McAlmont doing ‘Flouncing in colours’, took second; and Johanna Cecilia Secondary, represented by Romano Niles, took third place doing ‘Flouncing Mano’.
Closing off the day’s proceedings under the 14-17 category masquerade dances, Lodge Secondary was named winner of that competition; Linden Foundation, ‘the honourables’, came in second; and Cotton Field Secondary with ‘Flouncing revellers’ came in third.
Today, the calypso and drama competitions will begin at 9:00 hours at the National Cultural Centre. These will be followed by the Folk Song competition tomorrow, and the Children’s Road March on Saturday.