Agriculture Ministry Mash band links history,the future
THE Agriculture Ministry’s Mashramani band will be highlighting Guyana’s leadership role in the fight against climate change at this year’s costume competition  on February 23. The ministry will be celebrating, with pride, the fact that Guyana, such a small country, has made it thus far in being self-sufficient in many different sectors, moreso in agriculture.
Agriculture Minister Dr.Leslie Ramsammy said so yesterday, at the launching of the band in the Hydromet Office compound, Brickdam, Georgetown.
He said his ministry is ready to take to the streets and celebrate the success of the country.
“It is a signal to the people of Guyana, first a signal to the minister in charge and then a signal to the people that we, at the Ministry of Agriculture and our friends are ready to take to the road on a winning march,” Ramsammy declared.
According to him, the objective is not to win the costume competition, but the goal is to join with fellow Guyanese, on the day, to commemorate and celebrate what has been achieved by this generation and by its foreparents.
Minister Ramsammy said it will be a day to remember the fight that was won by the past generation, which has given Guyana its free republican status.

Colonialism
“Mash is a Guyanese celebration and, whether one group or one individual wins, it will be our celebration, our Guyanese celebration. It will be a celebration of our freedom; it will be a celebration of our country as a free republic among the people of the world and we must never forget that we must remember that, when we go on the road and celebrate, we will be celebrating not only our own freedom but the past and, as a country, we have overcome slavery and indentureship, we have overcome colonialism,” he said.
Ramsammy urged Guyanese to put aside their differences on the national day, since the country is rich with many good reasons to celebrate.
“We have many good reasons to celebrate with pride …keeping innovations alive, whenever celebrating our pride, what our ancestors have given us and that we are making good uses of the sacrifices, the blood and the sweat and the pain, and so in celebrating on Mash Day, we will be showing our pride in what we have achieved, thus far,” he posited.
Ramsammy pointed out that the band will also be reminding that Guyana is one of the small countries that is developing and still is capable of maintaining and feeding its people and even producing to also feed others.
“Our band will also remind people that we are celebrating cause we are one of those developing countries that can feed our people,” he repeated.
Noting that the United Nations (UN) Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was present, he said:”I think we take pride that, in our country we can produce to feed our people and, while we do bring food into our country to diversify the options for people, we can say we are self-sufficient in feeding our people. It is good reason to celebrate, sisters and brothers.”
Ramsammy boasted that Guyana can stand up with pride and Guyanese can walk with their heads held high because of the fact that the country has moved to the next level; has achieved and will continue to achieve.
“We can come out and celebrate the fact that, when it comes to feeding our people, we can stand up with pride and hold our heads up high. Each one of us in the Agriculture band will ensure that we jive along the way, so we will hold our heads high knowing it is we in the agriculture sector, in the Agriculture Ministry, all our agencies, are proud of what we achieve,” he emphasised.
Ramsammy disclosed that the Mash band will display improved choices for persons through better food production and he is proud to know that Guyana, through the Agriculture Sector, is realising the dreams of the ancestors.

Breadbasket
He maintained that, on Mash Day, his ministry and its band will march to success and goal fulfilled, with Guyana being the breadbasket of the Caribbean.
“We want to give our people better food , better products and improve the choices that people have and the band will show the choices people have but we will also march with a special message and that message will be that, not only can we feed our people but we can help to feed other people; that the dream of our ancestors, of Guyana being the breadbasket of the Caribbean can be fulfilled and our band will march and celebrate the fact that we are beginning to achieve that dream of being the breadbasket,” Ramsammy insisted.
He said the band will also be showcasing Guyana as a contributing factor to the elimination of issues that are caused by global warming, even while the country is not responsible for the problem.
“Guyana is playing our role larger than we should; we may not have contributed to the problem but we are contributing to the solution. We will hold ourselves high and our country will be contributing to eliminating this issue,” Ramsammy pledged.
He insisted that, even while the country and its people might be victim of climate change, Guyana will not be asking the world to solve the problem on its own. It will be taking the leadership role in this regard.
Ramsammy said the band will proclaim the model of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) to the world.
“…we must do something and we are doing more than a small country like us has a business to do. It will be a celebration and an acclamation and a commitment and we hope to see all our brothers and sisters coming to join the ministry.”

Innovate
He continued: “We want to innovate. We want to show the world that we can contribute to bring solution and expanding the agriculture lands to produce bio-mass for bio-fuel is an innovation that we contribute to solving the global problem.
“Finally, as we go green and grow, we will remind the world that climate change was not caused by us. Climate change was caused by many outside of this country but it is having an impact on all those of us who live on this planet,” Ramsammy said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony lauded the Agriculture Ministry for being the first to launch its Mash band.
He praised the efforts in making the band one of such great importance, even while a funny and interesting piece.
Anthony said he, particularly, likes the theme that was chosen as people see coming on the road and celebrating as just having fun.
“But you can have fun and still portray a very important message and I think the message coming out of the Ministry of Agriculture is a very pertinent one,” he said.
Anthony remarked that it is good the Agriculture Ministry is using the occasion not only to celebrate but to educate the people on what it is and has been doing.
He added: “I’m looking forward to seeing you on the road. I expect to see you dancing on board and giving a true Guyanese celebration.”
Anthony cautioned, though:” You are in for stiff competition since we have like 30 to 32 bands on the road.”