COORDINATOR of children’s activities for Mashramani 2013, Ms. Desiree Wyles-Ogle, has informed that activities to be held in that regard include dance and masquerade competitions, calypso and dramatic poetry competitions, choir presentations, and the Children’s Costume Parade.

Representing the Central Mash Committee and the Ministry of Education,
she said those activities would be organised in each education district for the nursery, primary and secondary schools, and that regional competitions will start from as early as January 24, and conclude on February 6.
She noted that a new category, hip-hop, has been added to the dance competition to ensure more participation from boys, but will only cater for the 11-to-13 and 14-to-17 age categories, and will be closely monitored.
Ms. Wyles-Ogle indicated that the finals for the various competitions will be held at the Centre in Georgetown on February 13, 14 and 15, and due to the large numbers of students congregating at the venue over the past years, and because of the children’s narrow attention span, competitions for the nursery and primary schools will be held in the mornings, while those for secondary schools will be held in the afternoons.
She said the Children’s Costume Parade will be held on February 16, with the children moving off from the Parade Ground and assembling at the National Park, where the judging would take place.
For the first time last year, a choir presentation was held, and it was a “hit”, so it will definitely be held again this year, Ms Wyles-Ogle disclosed.
She said that the Mashramani Secretariat is in dialogue with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Limited for sponsorship of the Children’s Parade, and that the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) would be sponsoring all the trophies in the regions for dramatic poetry.

Essay competition
Ms. Wyles-Ogle also informed that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport would be hosting a Republic of Guyana essay writing competition in both the junior and senior (18 and above) category, under the theme “The role of youths in nation building.”
Essays for the junior category have to be at least 450 words, while those for the senior category have to be at least 600 words.
All entries must be accompanied by an entry form, to be published, and must be submitted to the Mashramani Secretariat by February 15.

Calypso, Health, and Road March
Convener, Ms. Patricia Chase-Green, indicated that plans are well on stream for the hosting of the Calypso, Health Song and Road March activities.
According to her, auditions for the senior calypso competition were held late last November with 28 to 30 entrants, which were shortlisted to 20.
The semi-finals for this competition will be held on February 9 in Linden, and the finals will be held at Thirst Park on February 15. Main sponsor for both segments is Banks DIH Limited.
Meanwhile, there are 12 contestants for the junior calypso competition. Rehearsals began on Monday, January 7, at the Guyana National Service (GNS) Sports Complex, and the competition will be held on January 26 at the NCC.
The accompanying band for the calypso competitions is the Mingles Sound Machine, and a guest artiste from Trinidad will also be performing.
Ms. Green said entries are still open for the Health Song competition, which will be staged simultaneously with the junior calypso competition.
According to her, the final word from the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS) with regard to this competition is still being awaited.
She noted that the Road March competition for the best local song played by the bands on the road is judged on Mashramani Day, February 23.

Child Art
Convener of the Child Art competition, Ms. Collette Jones-Chin, said a very good show was held last year, and that set a very high precedent, which will have to be bettered this year.
According to Ms Jones-Chin, this year’s competition is based on the Mashramani 2013 theme: “reflecting creativity, embracing diversity”, with the sub-theme being “Rainbow of hope”, in light of  the celebration of both the 175th anniversary of Indian Arrival and 250th Anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion.
The age category 4-to-12 will see students competing in drawing and painting, while those in the 13-to-17 category will compete in drawing, painting, and the new addition — graphics and body art designs.
Competitions will be held at the Umana Yana from February 14 to 28, and letters have already been dispatched to schools in the various regions.
According to Ms. Jones- Chin, when the children are finished doing their pieces, they will submit same to their schools. The schools will then send the three best pieces to the NCC by February 4.
Judges have already been selected, and the prizes to be awarded are very attractive.

Pan competition
Coordinator of the Steel Band competition, Mr. Andrew Tyndall, indicated that this competition will be held in the school band, church band, small categories; senior and junior solo, band duet and large band categories; and competition will be held for all the categories, except the school band category, on February 17 at the Cliff Anderson Sports hall at 4.00pm (16:00hrs).
An increase in the number of school bands participating in this competition is expected, and in order to facilitate the attendance of more students at the competition, a separate competition will be held for this category on February 15 at NCC.
He informed that the permanent corporate sponsor for this event is the Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited.
Also, Mash Steel Band concerts will be held predominantly in the rural areas, such as Linden, Parika, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), but one will be held in Georgetown.