WITH three days of riveting and very colourful competitions, Region 3 has completed its annual Mashramani competitions for schools at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground. The competitions, with the theme, ‘Reflecting Creativity, Embracing Diversity’, were staged on January 29 and 30, and February 1. It was evident from all the various categories showcased that the schools have brought their ‘A Game’ to the front as could be seen in the very impressive entries in the Dramatic Poetry, Calypso, Costume (Topical and Fantasy) and Dances displayed.
Schools shone remarkably
It was quite a stirring experience to observe the nursery schools as they put forward very impressive presentations in the area of dance, choral singing, drama, calypso and costume display. Some were feisty, some were amusing, and some even performed beyond expectations.
Taking top spot in the Nursery Choir Contest was Genesis Early Childhood Education Centre, performing ‘The song of Guyana’s Children’. Taking the second spot was Hague Nursery School with the folk song, ‘Bamboo Fire’.
At the primary level it was Den Amstel Primary taking the top spot against Genesis and Vreed-en-Hoop Primary Schools, following in second and third positions respectively. While the winning school performed ‘Song of Guyana’s Children’, Genesis Primary offered ‘Let us Co-operate’. Vreed-en-Hoop serenaded patrons with ‘Little Angels’
Carting off the first place in this segment at the secondary level was West Demerara Secondary, while Patentia and Vergenoegen raked in the second and third places, respectively.
It was all fun and excitement when the nursery schools teamed up for the much anticipated dance off. Taking top spot in the Ring Dance Segment was Tuschen Nursery, while Anna Catherina and Belle West Nurseries followed in second and third places.
In the Religious Beliefs Segment, it was Shirley Merle Field Nursery copping first place, followed by La Grange, and De Kinderen Nurseries taking the next two available spots. The Legends and Traditions category saw Vreed-en-Hoop Nursery copping first place, followed by La Jalousie in second place, while Jasso’s Nursery took the final available spot.
The Fantasy Segment saw La Grange Nursery emerging winners, followed by New Annlegt Nursery at second and Vreed-en-Hoop at third.
La Jalousie Nursery came first in the Dramatic Poetry Segment, followed by Tuschen at second, and Anna Catherina taking the third  position.
The very entertaining Calypso segment saw two schools battling fiercely, but it was eventually Bagotsville Nursery that took the top spot, leaving Tuschen to settle for second.
The costume segment was divided into two categories and it was La Jalousie Nursery taking top honours with their fantasy costume, while Genevive and L’ Adventure were forced to settle for second and third respectively. The topical costumes were a rush of Caribbean colours, but none could stop the brilliance of Shirley Merle Nursery who carted off the top spot leaving Cornelia Ida and Goed Fortuin to settle for second and third.

The Primary Schools showcase
The primary schools took up the mantle on January 29, and delivered quite a show when their segment was staged at the same venue. The Dramatic Poetry segment saw the evolving of rich, untapped talent.
In the end, it was Tuschen Primary’s Latchmin Persaud who stole the judges’ hearts with ‘Old Age’. Patentia Primary’s Victoria Samuels had no alternative than to settle for second with ‘Domestic Violence’. Genesis Primary’s Taga Ross-Thorne placed third with ‘Prayer for our Nation’.
The lone entrant in the Calypso Competition was Grace Charles of Vreed-en-Hoop Primary, so naturally she copped first place.
It was all ‘Mashramani fire’ when schools contested their Group and Ring Dances, and while the battle was fierce, Vreed-en-Hoop demolished Tuschen to emerge winners. Genesis was the lone competitors in the ‘Fantasy Segment’, therefore taking home the top spot.
Competing in the Religious Beliefs arena, it was Genesis alone who emerged winners since they were the lone competitor. Their entry was dubbed, ‘Holy Ghost Gym’.
Onifa Pearo of La Retraite Primary won the Dramatic Poetry Category with ‘Changing Times’, followed by Esther Dover of La Grange Primary with ‘Violent Killings’. In third position was Genesis’s Breanne Boucher with ‘Watch de Ride’.
The scene in the 8-10 years Calypso Category was electric. None could stop Genesis’s Jeron Boucher who placed first. Taking the second and third places were Vreed-en-Hoop and Patentia Primary. The schools were represented with ‘No child must be left Behind, ‘GPL tek way de Light’, and ‘Stop de Killings’.
Genesis Primary seemed to be on fire in the 8-10 Religious Beliefs Dance categories, and placed first with ‘Nobody is Greater’. La Grange took second place with the same entry, whilst Zeelugt took third, with ‘Just like you Jesus’. In fourth place was Vreed-en-Hoop, with ‘Diversify our worship in Christ’
In the Interpretive Dance segment, La Retraite Primary took first place with ‘Mash Jump Up’. In second place was Leonora with ‘One’, while Two Brothers Primary placed third with ‘Soca Fusion’. In fourth place was Genesis Primary with ‘All Around’.
Legends and Traditions saw Genesis Primary emerging winners with ‘Jehovah’, followed by Mc Gillivray Primary performing in second place. Capturing the third spot was Wales Primary, performing a pulsating Indian dance.
  Much  talent was promoted in the 11-13 Calypso Showdown. However, it was Patentia Secondary’s Akeshia who won this segment with her piece, ‘Take your Time’. Following close on her heels was Genesis’s Nakeisha Paddy, with ‘They taking Over’, while Vreed-en-Hoop’s Dacia Walcott came in third, singing, ‘Security in School’.
In the 14-17 Calypso Faceoff, it was Patentia Secondary School’s Melissa Wilson taking the top spot with ‘21st Century Teacher’.