Cell phone giant Digicel took the first place for its “Royalty” costume and won in several other categories in this year’s Costume, Band and Float parade.
Digicel’s royal chariot featuring king, throne and royal animals took the top prize in the ‘Full Costume’ category, a press release from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport said. The ministry won the second prize, for its float which paid homage to the Year of the African and the Ministry of Health won the third prize for its “Love that Body” float.
In the ‘Medium Band’ category, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs with its “Hunter and Huntress” depictions copped first prize; the Ministry of Tourism and Guyana Tourism Authority’s “Flora, Fauna, Culture, Our Pride” and Region Four’s “One People” were second and third, respectively.
In the ‘Small Band’ category, the first place was given to the Ministry of Education for its “Literacy in Flight” depiction, while the Ministry of Agriculture’s float featuring elements from its various sectors and the Linden Hospital Complex’s “Proud as Peacocks” floats came in second and third, respectively.
In the ‘Semi-Costume: Large Band’ category, the Local Government Ministry, with its “Unity in Diversity” float came in first followed by The Body of Christ’s “Ark of the Covenant” and Slingshot’s “Tek ah Taste, Leh we X It”, third. In the ‘Medium Band’ sub-category the National Coordinating Committee (Volunteers) gained first place, Region Ten, second, and the Guyana Forestry Commission, third.
Digicel again copped the first place in the ‘Small, Semi-Costume’ category, with their “Network” float while Deaf in Guyana and the Changed Life Deaf Church came in second and third. In the ‘Individual Costume’ category, Digicel walked away with three first prizes for “King” and the Male and Female costumes. The Ministry of Culture tied with Digicel for the first place position while the winning prize for the “Queen” was given to the health ministry which wowed spectators with its “Swans” costume.
For the ‘Floats’, the Ministry of Culture won the first place in the ‘Non-Commercial’ category; the Guyana Power and Light won in the ‘Commercial’ category and Slingshot won for ‘Animal Drawn’ grouping.
In addition, participants were given the chance to outdo each other through the decorating of their respective workplaces/buildings/commercial and non commercial offices. Under the Non Commercial–Decorated category, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat gained first place, while second and third positions went to the Guyana Police Force – Passport Office and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Culture won the first place in the Non-Commercial – Decorated and Illuminated category, while the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance fell in second and third respectively. Stabroek Market earned the lone prize under the Commercial – Illuminated category.
For the Commercial – Decorated and illuminated category, Banks DIH came in first, while the National Communications Network and KFC on Vlissengen Road came in second and third.
Schools also competed with South Ruimveldt Primary gaining first place in the ‘Illuminated’ category, while second and third went to GITC and Ascension Secondary School, respectively. In the ‘Decorated’ category, St Ambrose Primary took first position, while Sophia Special School and Winfer Gardens Primary came in second and third, respectively.
