THE Children’s Costume Parade and Road March, organised by the Department of Education in collaboration with the Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) administration on Friday, attracted hundreds of children drawn from nursery, primary and secondary schools across the Essequibo coast.

It electrified the Town of Anna Regina, and stoked into a raging inferno the fires of enthusiasm that were evident in the commercial centre. Mashramani celebrations are in full swing today!

All excited with their Mash costumes and resplendent clothing, children proudly displayed the colours of the Golden Arrowhead as they gathered with their teachers at the Three Friends Bridge in the south of the coast, and danced along the public road to music blaring from huge speaker boxes mounted on canter lorries and trailers, as the procession slowly wended its way to the community centre ground at Anna Regina.

At Anna Regina the high bridge was overcrowded with people of all ages as everyone tried to view the colourful road show from a good vantage point.

The public road was transformed into a veritable carnival as students danced enthusiastically and competed with each other for top positions, while hundreds of residents lined the public road to witness the happenings as Guyana celebrated its forty-fourth Republic anniversary in real festive style.

Region 2 Chairman Mr. Parmanand Persaud, accompanied by Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Yvette Tafares-Hastings also joined the colourful road show and celebrated Mash with the children.

At the end of the show, prizes were given for the most uniformed band, the largest contingent and the best costume band. Best costume band in the nursery category went to Anna Regina Nursery; with Reliance Nursery placing second, and Abram Zuil third; while the most uniformed band for nursery schools went to Reliance Nursery.

Fisher Primary School of Golden Fleece Village was adjudged the winner of the most uniformed band, and Cotton Field Secondary walked away with the first prize in the secondary category.

In the largest contingent band category, Charity Nursery, Sparta Primary and Anna Regina Multilateral were the respective winners; while the winners of the best costume band in the primary category were Sparta first and second, and Lima Sands third.

In the secondary category for the best costume band, Abram Zuil Secondary walked away with the first prize, Cotton Field copped the second prize, and 8th of May third.

(By Rajendra Prabhulall)