WITH all the preparations in place for Guyanese to have an eventful Mash Day, make sure that according to your checklist, sunglasses, flags, sunscreen, water and camera are all packed and ready. Guyana is in full gear to celebrate its 45th Republic Anniversary with a grand costume parade. With some 30 groups set to dazzle on the road today, the Mash Secretariat, the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport would like to urge persons to be safe while enjoying the festivities.

During a recent meeting with Head of the Mash Secretariat, Lennox Canterbury, he emphasised on personal safety as well as making sure all the rules and procedures are followed.
Canterbury said that every float, in groups of 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.
The Head of the Mash Secretariat also advised that persons, who are part of the float parade, should have lots of liquid to avoid dehydration and the necessary sun screens to avoid sun burns as well as comfortable footwear.
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.” He noted that this is also important for spectators.
NO VENDING ON PARADE ROUTE
The Guyana Police Force is set 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.
It was disclosed that within the route the parade follows, areas were identified which will be barricaded to prevent persons from going into the path of the floats. 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.
The Guyana Police Force has issued an advisory regarding the regulation of traffic on Mashramani Day and according to the advisory, between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm (6:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs), traffic in the certain streets will be affected in order to facilitate the Mash Day Float Parade.
CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
In the Queenstown area, New Garden Street will be closed to traffic at the intersection with Lamaha, Anira, Laluni, and Crown, Lance Gibbs, and Forshaw Streets.
The Thomas Lands area, JB Singh Road and Woolford Avenue, Albert Street and Woolford Avenue, and Camp and Thomas Roads will all be closed to traffic. North Road, at the corners of Irving, New Garden, Peter Rose, Oronoque, Albert, Light, Cummings, East, Thomas, Camp and King Streets will be closed.
Church Street, at the corners of Avenue of the Republic, Carmichael, Waterloo, Camp, Thomas, East, Cummings, Light, Albert, Oronoque, Peter Rose, and New Garden Streets, and at Vlissengen Road, will all be closed to traffic.
And in Kitty, the following intersections will be closed to traffic: Barr Street and Vlissengen Road, Alexander and Sandy Babb Street, Dowding and Gouring Street, Station and Gouring Street. Abary Street traffic will be restricted at its intersections with Lamaha, Garnett, D’Andrade, DaSilva, and Duncan streets. Traffic will also be restricted at Barima and Eping Avenues.
Lastly, Thomas Road, from J.B. Singh Road to Camp Road, and Albert Street from Woolford Avenue to Thomas Road, will remain closed for the duration of the Float Parade.
Persons desirous of entering the National Park by vehicle are requested to do so from the Carifesta Avenue entrance.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)