Kashif and Shanghai Organ-isation yesterday announced the cancellation of its Mash Jump Up concert, which was to feature Barbadian soca queen Alison Hinds, “on account of irreversible difficulties arising out of venue-related miscommunication.” The concert was billed for the National Park on February 21 and organisers said it would have been their contribution to this year’s Mashramani celebrations, but last Friday the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport stated that it had not granted permission for any activity to be held at the National Park on that night.
When contacted, one of the organisers of the event, Kashif Mohammed, said a new venue was to be announced within 24 hours since there was a misunderstanding. He did not elaborate, but pointed out that the public would be informed of the change in venue “very shortly”.
However, in a release yesterday the organisation said the show has been cancelled and tendered “its fulsome apologies to those sponsors that had been associated with the show and to patrons who were anticipating the show as part of Guyana’s 2009 Mashramani celebrations.”
The management of Alison Hinds and her band has been contacted and informed of the cancellation and according to the organisers they have opened discussions with Hinds’ representatives regarding her appearing in Guyana at an event promoted by the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation at the “very earliest future date.” The organisers took the opportunity to extend best wishes to the government and people of Guyana for “an enjoyable Mashramani 2009.”
The organisers said that they regretted that “what we had hoped would be our contribution to this year’s Mashramani celebrations will no longer take place.”
On Friday the Culture Ministry issued a media advisory which stated that that the Children’s Costume and Float parade, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Education was the only official Mashramani activity scheduled for February 21. The ministry asked the public to take note. The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, through Digicel, El Dorado, Carib and Caribbean Airlines, was expected to host the Mash Jump Off concert. Digicel and Carib have this year opted out of being part of the float parade on Mashramani day, something they have been a part of in previous years.
