Minister appeals for more businesses in float parade
MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony has appealed to all businesses, whether private or public, to come on board and be a part of the 2012 Mashramani activities, specifically the road marches. He said, while plans are progressing successfully, there is still a need for more involvement from the business sector.
According to him, indications are that 25 floats are confirmed but he believes there is a need for more support, especially on an occasion like Mashramani.
Anthony made those observations at the launch of the Banks DIH Mash Camp last Friday but, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he said his ministry is targeting 30 or more floats and that goal has not yet been achieved, although it is one week away from the holiday.
He said, looking back over the years, the trend was that, as it gets later in the month, there would be a very clear showing of participation.
“So we are very pleased that, at this point, we have gotten this indication and we expect that to grow and we would have more than 30 on Mash Day,” Anthony said, optimistically.
He also urged the various companies to get involved as all the people of Guyana join together as one to celebrate with a packed programme after hard work.
“We have been working and planning Mash 2012 for quite some time now and I can report to you that all the various sub-committees have been working actively and we have a very comprehensive programme for Mash 2012,” Anthony said.
Meanwhile, the ministry is cooperating with the City Council to ensure that the routes to be used on February 23 are litter free and well groomed and the clean-up seems to be going quite well.

Top priorities
Coordinator of Mashramani in the ministry, Mr. Lennox Canterbury has assured that safety and security for Mash Day are top priorities in the Ministry’s Mash Secretariat.
He said the ministry has been working with Guyana Power & Light ((GPL), too,  to make sure that the hanging electrical cables on the routes will be lifted so that the high floats and/or trucks are not caught or entangled by them on Mash Day.
Canterbury said, to avoid accidents and injuries, the Ministry of Home Affairs and members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have also been collaborating on the upcoming events towards maximum protection for everyone who will be out celebrating on Mash Day.
An added feature this year is a historical lecture that will be delivered by Professor John Rickford of Stanford University, on February 20.
There will also be several workshops where a lot of persons will meet and have discussions relating to the growth and development of Guyanese culture and a need to promote and sustain folk art in Guyana.
The theme for the Mashramani events is ‘Mashing with pride; keeping the tradition alive’.