APART from the usual measures that are normally in place during Mashramani celebrations, there have been a few enhancements and additions to ensure that there is order and safety for participants as well as spectators on Mash Day, a public holiday on Monday. Head of the Mash Secretariat, Lennox Canterbury gave this assurance last Friday during a meeting in the boardroom of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Canterbury said that every float, for every 10-15 persons, should have a properly identified marshal who is officially a part of that group, and charged with the responsibility of security for the revellers.
“Marshals ensure that good order prevails, by not encouraging outsiders to come in and disrupt the order of the float,” he said.
Moreover, he advised revellers to discourage their friends from coming into their float parade and they should also avoid exiting because it disrupts the order and takes away from the display.
The various marshals are also there to help if anything happens to anyone, and he noted that each organisation is given two vehicle passes to have two extra vehicles in the parade to take around necessities such as water and so forth.
AVOID DEHYDRATION, SUN BURN
The Head of the Mash Secretariat also advised that persons should have lots of liquid on that day to avoid dehydration and the necessary sun screens to avoid sun burns.
He emphasised that “organisations should make sure that the clothes that the revellers are wearing are comfortable, no matter what size the individual may be.”
Representatives from some of the participating organisations, who were present at the meeting last Friday, highlighted that there are usually persons sitting along the routes and so it was suggested that there should be more barriers along the parade route.
The individuals also emphasised that at the corners of Church and Irving Streets, because of the narrowness of the road there, persons should be prevented from standing there. Last year there was an incident when a person was hit down by one of the float parades.
NO VENDING ON PARADE ROUTE
Canterbury in reply to the statements by the individuals, disclosed that they have partnered with the Guyana Police Force to maintain order, especially ensuring that there will be no vending along the route (North Road-Church Street-Irving Street-Thomas Lands), so as to avoid the usual congestion and make more room for the parades.
Meanwhile, speaking at the meeting, a police rank disclosed that they had a walk along the route which the parade follows and identified areas which will be barricaded to prevent persons from going into the path of the floats.
The rank disclosed that all of the intersecting roads along Irving and Church Streets will be blocked and supervised by police to ensure that vehicles cannot enter into the path of the parade.
“At the head of Lamaha Street leading into the intersection of Irving Street there will be a double barrier and also at Sandy Babb Street into the turning point at Thomas Lands,” said the rank.
PERSONAL SAFETY
He also advised persons not to sit on top of the music boxes, because a person can slip and fall, and one death is not good for the country.
Apart from that the wheels of large vehicles involved in the parade should be covered, because the driver can’t see at the side. Also persons involved in the float should pay attention and ensure that persons stay away from the vehicles.
In closing the rank emphasised that if persons follow the procedures and stick to all the arrangements there should be a smooth flow on Mash Day and a better Mashramani this year.

(By Navendra Seoraj)