This week we asked the people of Berbice to comment on the Mashramani celebration in New Amsterdam and generally about the crime situation and got the following responses:
Shivraj Somwaru, self-employed
‘Last Sunday was the first time I ever went to the Mash and I enjoyed myself although I went late. I went there to have a good time and I was not disappointed. I only saw four costumes and I was impressed with them. I like the big music sets that were playing there. A lot of people turned up at the Mash and there was a crowd from Charlotte Street to Cooper’s Lane on the Main Road. To me the Mash was nice but I left as soon as the place started to get dark. I never used to go to the Mash because I always used to hear that people end up in fights and get stab and so. I am from Rosignol and I had to cross with the boat to go and that was the reason I got there late. I wish if the Region Five department can start organizing Mash like that in West Berbice. I know it would attract a lot of people from Georgetown and other places because not everyone likes to cross with the boat.’
Devika Sukdeo, housewife
‘I did not go to the Mash in New Amsterdam because I don’t like that kind of thing too much. I heard that the Mash was not so nice like last year. Even if I was thinking of going this year I would have changed my mind because of all the killings that went on recently. I think a lot of people prefer to stay indoors because of that reason. I am also afraid to go out to places like that because you never know if criminals are among the crowd. Sometimes they are so well dressed that you cannot pick them out easily. Then the next thing you know you get robbed or injured and because of the crowd you wouldn’t even know who did it. The police would be there to protect you yes and make sure nobody breaks the law but then things happen so fast. I heard the police close off the Mash early and that is a good thing because when people drink and enjoy themselves too much they tend to end up in fights and people get murdered like what happened in the past.’
Hillary Greaves, pork-knocker/vendor
‘I was planning to sell and then go back later to the Mash but I didn’t bother because it was really dead. They only had about four floats and they take until after 3 pm to pass; to me they [floats] were stale. But the people who displayed them made a good effort. A lot of people did not go like the other times. They were afraid to come out because of how those innocent people were killed. I even asked a woman how come people not coming out and she said ‘with all that killing that going on people won’t come out.’ She said ‘Fineman could be anywhere.’ To me last year Mash in New Amsterdam was Mash and as a ‘flat-foot’ hustler business was bright for me – I sold $28,000. But this year I barely made $3,000.’
Karramchand Brij-mohan, plane operator at sawmill
‘I am not interested in Mash so I did not go. I am 39 years of age and I never went to a Mash yet. I heard that too much of lawlessness go on there. Before I go to Mash and enjoy myself I prefer to stay home and take care of chores around the yard. I have children to send to school and I have to try to develop them and give them a better life. Presently too much crime going on in this country and I think the government needs to spend more effort to catch the criminals. Until then, this country can never come good.’
Kalamudein Abrahim, engineer
‘I have never been to a Mash in all my life because that is not my kind of sport and I did not go this year either. The crime situation is one of the reasons why people do not like to go to these types of activities. One of the reasons for the crime is because people have the freedom to do as they like and they cause the country to become lawless. This happens because of democracy but where the wider world plunges into democracy they set ways on how to control crime. We need foreign expertise to handle the situation because our people are inefficient and they don’t have the know-how to handle crime. It is a downfall from our president [Bharrat Jagdeo], come right down. When they put strategic plans in place they air it instead of treating it confidentially with top bracket staff.’
Feroze Ally, labourer
‘I went to the Mash for the second time on Sunday and I had a good time. But I enjoyed it more last year because it had a lot more people and more groups take part in the floats; it was much nicer. Anyhow this year Mash was still nice although it didn’t have so much float. I went late but I still enjoyed myself with the nice music sets. Despite the crime situation a lot of people still turn out. They were drinking and dancing and having a good time. I find there was adequate security and one of the good things I liked about the Mash was that there was no violence. I left the Mash about 6 pm and a lot of people were still there while others were still going.’
Lousia Haynes, businesswoman
‘I didn’t go very early to the Mash but from what I saw, many groups did not participate in the floats. But people were out on the streets enjoying themselves. There were a lot of different bars on the Main Road. But the Mash was completed very early and that is the time when people want to come out and have fun. A lot of people were still going after the parade was over and they were just walking up and down the street. They just wanted to dress up and go out somewhere because there are hardly any recreational activities in Berbice. I was very happy that the security was very tight. Even after everything finish police were still around all the time.’
Cleopatra Gittens, sales girl `There were a lot of people at the Mash but I expected all the floats to be at one place but they were separated and went along different streets. People had to walk around all to get to see the floats better. I didn’t have a good time so I left early. I heard that after a certain hour the Mash was closed off and a lot of people who went late to enjoy themselves were disappointed. It was a good thing that the police were all around because people felt secured.’
Robert Moore, photographer/graphic designer
‘There were rumours going around that there would not be any Mash this year because of the crime situation. But it seemed to be a sudden change of heart because by 2 pm you see people starting to come out and the music sets and the booths were set up. There were three robberies during last week and people were mostly afraid to come out, I would say. But even though we had a late start, the floats were impressive. The Mash did not have the main attractions like GT&T Cell Link or Digicel as some people had expected and although they enjoyed themselves, they were disappointed. Everything just shut off early because of security reasons and maybe because it was Sunday and people had to go to work or school the next day. There were police officers all along the roadway and the patrols were at different points taking safety precautions because of rumours that there would be robbery and gunplay the same day. Surprisingly and fortunately there was none.’
Stanley Rampersaud, businessman
‘The Mash was not as bright as last year because people did not feel it was safe to go out after the tragedies that occurred at Lusignan and Bartica. That caused people to take precautions and stay in their homes. Generally when the place is dark they are afraid to come out because the criminals create a kind of fear in society. You don’t know where, when or how they would attack you. The police are trying but they cannot be all over at the same time. There was good security at the Mash and police were on the alert in case of any crime. I think they should keep the patrol going in the same manner and don’t wait on something to happen. Normally at Mash time business would pick up but this year it was very slow.’
