The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) last week formally launched its Mash Band for the 2013 Mashramani Competition with promises to deliver a performance to match last year’s.
During the launch, YCT President Jermaine Grant was optimistic that this year’s costume designs will see the organisation building on its 2012 success of five of the coveted Road March competition prizes. He promised that this year’s performance will be equally outstanding.
The group revealed its costume designs for the full and semi costume categories, called ‘Jubilant Revellers’ and ‘Greenaval Reloaded’ respectively. It was said that the colours used to create the pieces (orange, gold and green) will be effective in creating a medley of excitement.
In a statement, YCT stated that its costumes and accompanying float will effectively represent the 2013 Mash Theme ‘Reflecting Creativity, Embracing Diversity.’
Accompanying the launch was a presentation of a short documentary as part of the programme where the interviewee, Basil Butcher, provided a history and Genesis of Mashramani in Guyana, along with reflections of February 23, 1970 when Guyana became a Republic.
Butcher, during the interview, expressed his concern about the erosion of some of the cultural and historical significance of Mash. This erosion, he said, has, and continues to occur in part due to its commercialisation.
After the launching, YCT facilitated registration for its Mash band, allowing patrons, who seemed pleased with the designs to be part of the upcoming experience.
