CONTRARY to reports indicating that Mashramani

activities spearheaded by the City Council are social
activities, acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba yesterday
advised the public that these activities are
economic activities which fall under the purview of
the Town Clerk’s department.
This disclosure was made yesterday by Sooba at a
press conference where she denounced what she
described as attempts by Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase
Greene to misguide the public through her comments
that Mashramani vending activities are social
engagements.
Additionally, she noted that the Social Development
Committee, which the Deputy Mayor said was
responsible for the selling of vending spots, was not
the body responsible for such activities but rather
the administrative arm of City Hall, which is within
her area of responsibilities.
According to her, persons interested in purchasing
spots for Mash Day economic or social activities, are
required to visit her department at City Hall where
they can be directed on the procedural requirements
for gaining their spots.
While noting that spots will be sold at either
$12,000 or $15,000, depending on a number of factors,
the Town Clerk noted that no change has been made to
the prices as compared to previous years.
Where applicable, Sooba noted that concessions too
will be granted to organisations or companies that
purchase large areas. These would only be granted
subsequent to examinations conducted by the
department, where they would deem it applicable for
these organisations, she said.
NO-VENDING ZONES
However, the acting Town Clerk added that a few “zero
tolerance” zones will be put into effect on Mash Day
and these include JC Latchmansingh Street, Irving
Street and Church Street. These areas, she noted,
will be completely closed to vending and as such any
economic activities related to Mash, transacted in
these areas, will be deemed illegal.
Intervention will then be made by either the City
Constabulary or the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who
will be working in tandem to ensure there is no
breach of these temporary arrangements.
This decision was made so as to adequately facilitate
the floats on Mash Day and avoid any likely
hindrance by vendors, as space constraints remain a
critical factor. “We can’t afford to have accidents
during this happy season,” Sooba said.
PORTABLE TOILETS
Portable toilets will also be placed around the areas
for the public while a team headed by the acting Town
Clerk, the City Treasurer, Deputy Town Clerk and the
Assistant Town Clerk will be responsible for manning
these activities. “All financial transactions will be
dealt with by the City Treasurer,” she said.
AFTER-MASH CLEAN-UP
Meanwhile, Sooba hinted that this year’s activities
will be fashioned just as last year’s where solid
waste management will follow the Mash activities in
an organised manner.
“We’re in the process of having systems in place to
have the after-Mash clean-up exercise done in an
efficient manner, especially around the business-
oriented areas on Church Street and Vlissengen
Road,” Sooba said.
She reiterated that these activities are not
political activities, but rather economic for the
Town Clerk’s department and the City Treasurer is
responsible for this. “The deputy mayor has no
authority; it is not a social activity. We would not
be responsible for any arrangements made between
members of the public and other departments claiming
to be responsible for selling spots,” Sooba assured
the media yesterday.
Last year, controversy surrounded the selling of
spots for Mash activities after the Mayor and Deputy
Mayor claimed they were responsible for such
arrangements. However, a stern Sooba refused to be
bullied as she proceeded to execute these duties.
Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor subsequently
encouraged vendors not to pay for spots, demanding
that it was a ‘religious’ celebration and persons
should not be required to pay.

(By Ravin Singh)