GUYANA Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday presented the Ministry of Education with a $3.5M cheque to assist with the activities for the Mashramani Children’s Costume Parade slated for next week Saturday.The donation was made following criticism that much was not being done to publicise and market the events for Mashramani 2014, including the children competitions which are done through schools.
The handing over, to Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, was done by GT&T’s Chief Financial Officer Justin Nedd.
The latter told the media that the company is pleased to be associated with such events, since it proves that GT&T is not only a good corporate entity with the payment of its taxes and licence fees.
Sam praised the gesture by the utility which was done for the third consecutive year and expressed the anticipation that next year it will repeat itself with an even bigger figure.
Asked about the level of publicity the Children’s Mash activities have been receiving and if he was at all pleased that the marketing of the events was adequate, he responded in the positive.
WONDERFUL TURNOUT
“I expect that we will have a wonderful turnout, even by those who have not yet enrolled in schools. I know our usual press releases were sent out, the extent to which you guys cover them is another story but I cannot speak for the media houses,” Sam told iNews.
The CEO pointed out that that this is the time of the year where many persons have a chance to witness the talents and dramatic performances of the students which never cease to “wow” those who show up as spectators.
This is the third consecutive year that GT&T has made a financial contribution to the Children’s Mash activities and, each year, it increases.
The Children’s Costume Parade is slated for next week Saturday, taking off from parade ground but other children’s competitions are already in progress.
There have been numerous comments and postings on the social networks with the level of publicity being given to the Mash activities for 2014 with several competitions being held across the country, but little is known about them.
Already, the Chutney semi-finals and finals have come and gone and the Carib Soca Monarch, Adult Calypso and other contests are yet to be staged, along with the Float Parade but, again, little is known.
There will be no HIV/AIDS Song competition this year because the sponsors have gone into hiding. One senior manager of a company which, usually, supports Mash activities and sponsorships each year told the Guyana Chronicle that Mash 2014 and its publicity and marketing are at an all time low, as it has been declining over the years.
Written By Leroy Smith