COME next year, a new competition called ‘Dancehall Monarch’ will be added to the Mashramani calendar of events.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr said, recently, that the competition has been in the pipeline for some time.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the decision to add this competition reflects the ministry’s commitment to expanding and improving the festival, which is a unique and important Guyanese product.

“The ministry is firmly committed to seeing the expansion of this unique Guyanese product which is Mashramani and we are looking forward to seeing it turn into a real world-class event,” he stated.

The addition of the Dancehall competition is expected to make it even more exciting and vibrant.

“The question is why not? We know that Chutney is authentic Guyanese. As a matter of fact, it started in Guyana. Soca is…authentic West Indian [and] so is Calypso. What else is authentic West Indian?” the minister asked.

He said that government is committed to the expansion of the general Mashramani competition and modern representation of dancehall. The government’s commitment to the festival is a testament to its belief in the importance of cultural heritage and national pride.