Georgetown: The highly-anticipated Mashramani float and costume parade is approaching and thousands of Guyanese are eager to hit the roads to experience the thrills and excitement of the wild soca music and the usually skimpy yet creative costume designs.
In an effort to head off extreme displays at the event to which Guyanese families flock, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said the Mash bands were warned not to go overboard with their designs and their music.
Dr Anthony said meetings were held with the various bands and they were advised that the judges would penalise them if they were too explicit on the roadways.
“There is a criteria and the judges will be penalising them…,” he said.
Over the years, the parade has been criticised as not “clean” enough for parents to bring their children to enjoy.
“I know Mash Day, they have all these half-naked women jiggling their bodies and it’s not nice for children to see that. It will destroy their innocence,” Denise McKenzie, a mother of two girls, said.
She also expressed that the music is often vulgar and degrading, not only to children, but women as well.
“It’s supposed to be a wonderful holiday, but to me, it’s just too indecent,” she said.
While the Minister stated that measures were in place to minimise vulgarity on the roads, he acknowledged that there were many who violated these.
“We try to set standards, but usually people violate that and we can’t really ensure everyone on Mash Day follows those standards,” he explained.
Meanwhile, also coming out of the meetings were guidelines for the Mash bands as it relates to punctuality, security, and other judging criteria.
So far, the Minister disclosed, approximately 20 bands were registered to parade the streets, but he expected more to sign on before the big day on Monday, February 23.
“Usually they register on the last minute and we have systems in place to facilitate this,” he explained.
When asked if he was concerned about a minimum focus on the true meaning of Mashramani, Anthony replied in the negative.
He explained that there were many activities during the Mashramani period that catered for people of all ages and interests.
“At all these activities, we ensure we emphasise on the fact that we are celebrating our Republican status.”
Mashramani is an annual festival that celebrates Guyana becoming a Republic in 1970.
Leading up to the grand festival, the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry organises a host of events all throughout the country to engage everyone in this holiday that promotes unity among Guyanese.
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