Mashramani celebrations were graced with brilliant sunshine and thousands of spectators yesterday.
Some 34 floats in the annual parade through the streets of the capital brought both the flash and flesh, although this year’s costume designs failed to match the creativity put on show last year.
Still, as the sun went down, the streets remained crowded with partying revellers.
The parade was once again off to a late start, due to poor organisation. Last year, rain had delayed the start of the parade. This year, despite the bright sun many floats were still scampering to organise their revellers and get them dressed in costume.
The scramble to organise bands may have been because persons were unsure if the parade would have been held yesterday. At the start of the week, heavy rainfall flooded the city and raised questions as to whether the parade would go on. On Tuesday, however, Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony announced that it would proceed as usual.
While the water did recede from the city, the malls were left muddy and there was tall grass and the drains were brimming to capacity. Still, this did not stop spectators from coming out and viewing the parade.
Many who came out said that they enjoyed the parade. Most of them were looking out for the corporate floats, in particular. Digicel, GT&T, Banks DIH and Carib seemed to be the most popular floats, among spectators. But many had to wait until late afternoon before they could view the floats.
Digicel’s “Royalty” band, Maxi K Williams’ “Out of the Rainforest,” the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, were among the more impressive bands on the road.
Meanwhile, the band with the most revellers was the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) group. The band did not have a float but the revellers were in semi-costume mashing down the road to music belted out by two trucks.
The Ministry of Education impressed with its choreography. Its young troupe was decked out in costume and choreographed their dance moves, treating onlookers.
Many persons, equipped with tents, chairs and food, selected their spot of choice and settled in for the long day along the parade route, stretching from Church Street to the National Park. Others, with umbrella-in-hand, stood alongside the road as the parade passed by and snapped pictures of the floats and the revellers.
For Sharon Davis and her little daughter their, spot of choice was sitting on the sidewalk opposite St Rose’s High School on Church Street. Davis noted that the costumes were “okay” this year. She said that she would usually go to the park and wait for the parade but she anticipated that they would encounter difficulty there this year, so she opted for Church Street instead. Her daughter, meanwhile, said that she was enjoying the parade.
Also enjoying the parade was Twana Marshall and family, who were camped out along the final leg of the parade route. Sitting on a blanket on a grassy corner, Marshall said that she was impressed with what she had seen of the parade.
At the National Park, the wait between the arrivals of the floats was quite a bother for those who filled the stands, which were less filled than last year. Many of those who gathered at the Park noted that they were there because they did not want to be on the roadside with their children.
When the floats did arrive, spectators were thrilled by the amusing gyrations and at times confusing displays. However, for two revellers, one from the Ministry of Health and the other from the Region Three float, the excitement of the day was more than they could take. They passed out on the way out of the Park, after their displays for the judges. Luckily, Red Cross volunteers were on hand to render assistance.
