IN the spirit of the countrywide celebrations in commemoration of Guyana’s 43rd Republic Anniversary, the Tourism Ministry, determined to diversify and spice-up the celebrations, accomplished this feat by pulling off the first-ever ‘Masharama’ street fete Friday evening.

The event conceptualised to be different as part of a plan to attract more persons to become involved in Mashramani celebrations, more than delivered, as revellers experienced a dramatically different revelry of a fusion of Guyanese and Brazilian  entertainment.
The event saw revellers, including Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (acting) Irfaan Ali and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, lining Brickdam from between Camp Street to Austin Place and enjoying a mixture of Guyanese and Brazilian music.
A 20-member Brazilian Samba Band was brought in especially for the event as part of the collaboration between the Tourism Ministry and the Brazilian embassy. The music was unique and well received – a change from the usual Caribbean and Guyanese sounds.
Not to be undone, the local artistes were outstanding and had the crowd going wild with their performances. Adrian Dutchin, three-time winner of the Soca Monarch title, and third place winner this year, more than delivered with an energetic performance of “Jook”, getting the crowd involved to the extent that two of the revellers joined him on stage to display their techniques. Kwesi Edmondson also put on a good performance, delivering his rendition of “Same thing” which copped the runner-up prize in the Soca monarch competition. There were performances also by Carib Soca Monarch Winner, Jomo Primo.