THOUSANDS of persons on Sunday thronged the main thoroughfare of the New Amsterdam Township to view this year’s Mashramani costume and float parade in which hundreds of revellers participated. The event has been described by onlookers as the best in recent times.The Ancient County’s oldest town was transformed into a sea of colours, with shades of red, green and yellow being more dominant, as sections of the main political parties used the opportunity to highlight voter education in face of the impending May 11 general and regional elections.

While members of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), youth arm of the ruling People’s Progressive Party, were overwhelmingly in evidence, persons expressed disappointment at not seeing a float from the ruling party, knowing that East Berbice is especially one of that party’s strongholds.

However, a group from the coalesced parties of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change made its presence felt, with their members decked in party colours as they jigged along to music blaring from one of several accompanying stereo sets.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, holding the Golden Arrowhead in one hand and a little child in the other, celebrated in true Guyanese fashion, swaying and smiling as he slowly stepped along with the Region Six costumed band and float.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan, Vice Chairman, Bhopaul Jagroo and PPP/C Parliamentarian, Faizal Jafrally were not left out of the celebrations, which started just after 14:00hrs at the Tacama Turn in Stanleytown, also known as Marks Bridge, an area which leads to the East Bank Berbice roadway.

Earlier in the day, groups of friends and families lined both sides of the main thoroughfare with every expectation of having a good time; and, surely, they were not disappointed. Barbeque grills, street picnics, food and drinks, along with clothing stalls and mobile photo studios to capture the memorable moments, besides enclosed bouncing nets for children and a very wide variety of confectioneries, amongst other items, were easily accessible, and could have been found at virtually every corner.

‘Boom boxes’ blaring songs of sexual encounters were placed at strategic spots between Kent and Mission Chapel Streets to entice the younger revellers, whose dance moves confirmed they had put aside all inhibitions. However, older viewers, while not condemning the youths’ gyrations, reminisced on yesteryear, when the steel orchestra was the preferred mode of musical enjoyment.

The contingent from the Region Six Administration led the parade, followed by a group that included Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, which distributed condoms along the journey. A contingent that included Brian King and other officials from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport followed, after which the Gloriets of New Amsterdam, and the Ministry of Agriculture, among others, were in evidence.

En route, the participants were joined by revellers who trotted along to the lawns of State House, before returning to Main Street to participate in the after-party, which the police brought to an end at just before midnight.

Apart from costumed revellers disposing of empty plastic bottles along the roadway, there were few reports of criminal offences, which the police are continuing to investigate. Nevertheless, the 2015 Mashramani celebrations in New Amsterdam truly lived up to the expectation of the theme “One People, One Culture, One Celebration”.

(By Jeune Bailey-VanKeric)