TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant, Digicel, the defending champion of the “full costume” category in the float parade, yesterday issued a statement informing that they will not be a part of this year’s Mashramani Costume and Float parade set for next week Thursday, February 23.The statement said that this year Digicel has decided, “to concentrate our efforts on community and family events”.

The company cited that over the last nine years that they have been operating in Guyana, they have been giving back a lot, and last year they did one of their biggest float procession, when they took part in the Jubilee costume and float parade last May.

“We have been part of the Mashramani celebrations in Guyana for nine years in a very big way. Last year, for Guyana’s 50th Golden Jubilee Celebrations, we put on one of our biggest floats of all the years we have been participating in Mash,” the statement said, adding that:
“This year (2017), we have decided to concentrate our efforts on community and Family events. We have several activities planned for this year that will focus on communities, sports, youth development, education and special needs.”

Digicel has continually defended the title as the full costume category winner for over five years now. Other big companies such as Banks DIH are also not expected to participate in this year’s annual Mashramani float parade. Previously some companies had complained about the new route, which they said was too short. However the Mash organisers had later extended the same route to give more mileage.