THE commercial centre of Anna Regina town was filled on Monday afternoon with thousands of Essequibians sporting colourful clothing and dancing energetically to driving rhythms in celebration of the country’s 45th Republic anniversary.

The town was a grand showcase of music, laughter, and unbridled joy as Essequibians celebrated Mashramani in peace and brotherhood as one people.
Reports said the areas around the car park and high bridge at Anna Regina were filled from as early as midday as people from villages across the coast, Pomeroon and Amerindian communities gathered to watch the scintillating float parade.
The float parade which was organised by the Region 2 Administration began from Three Friends bridge in the south of the coast at around 11:30 hrs and proceeded slowly along the public road to Anna Regina and then to the community center ground where a grand celebration took place.
Reports from the Regional Administration said some fourteen floats with hundreds of revellers took part in one of the biggest Mash celebrations ever staged on the Essequibo Coast.
Floats represented the Regional Democratic Council, New Opportunity Corps, International Link Sound promoting sports, Public Hospital Suddie, Pooran Man Man General Contractors, Jaigobin and Son Supermarket of Henrietta, Oscar Joseph District Hospital, Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mills of Exmouth, Essequibo Technical Institute, Cotton Field/Anna Regina Contractors Supplies Group, Fashion and Beyond and Celeste and Annie Beauty. Several decorated vehicles were also part of the road show.
The Fashion and Beyond group won the first prize in the float competition for large groups while the second place was taken by the Jaigobin Supermarket group. The third prize went to ETI.
In the smaller float parade group the first prize was won by Celeste and Annie Beauty group while second prize went to the Oscar Joseph District group. In third place was the Region 2 RDC. (Rajendra Prabhulall)