SOME wagered it was Carnival; others said J’Ouvert; and yet others Crop Over. But call it what you will, Mashramani 2013 had such a pull factor, it  brought Guyanese in the thousands out into the streets to witness spectacular floats parade down the thoroughfares of their beloved capital city, to the accompaniment of catchy music blaring from boom boxes in the trays of jumbo lorries.

And the overwhelming sentiment was one of delight, as countrymen and women from all walks of life, and from all strata of society collectively witnessed the many bands produce an exotic kaleidoscope of colours and a riot of styles and jubilation to both surprise and enthuse their receptive audience.

Leading this year’s Mashramani Float Parade was the Clear Waters band, which excited the crowd by throwing bottles of ice-cold drinking water at persons so they could quench the thirst brought on by the sweltering Mash Day heat.
 Floats representing several ministries, each with attendant government officials, were in the thick of things, dancing and revelling in the streets.

Leading the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development’s float was Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal, who stated that that float, which took the form of a hand, represented that ministry’s reaching out to all communities countrywide.

“…so what we have depicted here are some of the programmes: Solid waste management, etc.,” he said, adding: “The regions are also competing here…. We have with us Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven; and while they are competing individually, they are a part of us. We’re about 30, and we’re competing in the small band category.”

Housing and Water Minister, Irfaan Ali said his ministry’s float was focused on the sustainable housing and water conservation. He noted that those are two very important issues facing the world today.

“…not only providing housing for people, but ensuring that we provide it in a sustainable manner, meeting their water requirements and energy requirements; and ensuring that their homes are viable and strong to withstand any natural disaster. And also, the issue of water conservation is a big one internationally,” he added.

Ali indicated that water conservation has been underplayed in Guyana, and the ministry is focusing heavily on educating the Guyanese people about water conservation.  

University of Guyana Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi, who was with the Housing and Water contingent, noted that the celebration was fantastic. He thought it a big tourist attraction wherein tourists could come to participate in the beautiful social environment, which has a lot of freedom and expression.

Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Robert Persaud said, “Firstly, let me give credit to the hard-working staff at the ministry and all our agencies: the GGMC, the GFC, the Lands and Surveys Department, the Wildlife Division, the National Park…”
He said the ministry sought to depict harmony and the balance that must exist in development of the country’s natural resources. “…but also, having a clean environment; and that is why the sub-theme of the float is to ‘Pick It Up’, and let’s pick up the tempo being better Guyanese and Guyanese that are concerned about our environment, and at the same time concerned about the development of our country.”
Minister Persaud added that while that ministry’s float has serious messages, its objective is to bring the people of Guyana together. He noted that all Guyanese should be proud of their country and its development, and commit themselves to making Guyana great.

First-time visitors to Guyana’s Mashramani celebrations expressed utter delight at having a chance to participate in the activities, and promised to return next year to again embrace the opportunity; while repeat tourists promised to return for next year’s celebrations.

Georgetown was literally a sea of colour as the Mashramani Float Parade wended its way through city streets, thrilling onlookers who plastered themselves at every conceivable vantage point to get a glimpse of the costumes depicting Guyanese culture, lifestyle and industries.

Guyana’s rich vegetation, rare wildlife and many other alluring attractions were showcased in innovative costumes, substantiating the Mashramani 2013 theme, “Reflecting Creativity, Embracing Diversity”.

Approximately 30 bands ‘took to the road’ in this year’s celebrations, each audaciously vying to outdo the other in terms of crowd appeal as they contested the right to be accorded various titles; and this redounded to a surfeit of entertainment for the engaging spectators. Speaking to this publication, revellers opined that much imagination went into creation of this year’s floats, thus making the judges’ task an unenviable one.