Thousands of Guyanese from all walks of life flooded Main Road, New Amsterdam with a sea of colours on Sunday to witness this year’s Mash Last Lap Tramp.
The Berbice float parade brought the curtains down on Mashramani celebrations for Guyana’s 43rd Republic anniversary.
On the eve of the festivities, beverage companies and food vendors had already set up booths along the shoulders of Main Road, New Amster-dam to cash in on the throng of people expected to turn out to witness and participate in the Mash tramp. They were not disappointed.
By midday, thousands of Berbicians and others had already assembled to view the parade, which started around 2.45 pm at Tacama Turn.
Some 12 organisations participated in the parade, according to the Deputy Regional Executive Officer of Region Six Imran Alli, who was a part of the region’s band of revellers leading the parade.
Alli, excited by the revellers pulsating around him, declared “Mash 2013, as expected, is certainly a blast! The Berbice leg of the Mashramani Float Parade has brought a lot of entertainment to the folks of Berbice.”
Gesticulating towards the crowd, he said, “The way Main Street is jammed is testimony of people wanting to come out to have a good time. This is what Mash is about – people enjoying themselves.” Beaming with pride, he added that the region’s float, entered into the medium sized band category of the National Float Parade under the title ‘Ship of Fortune,’ gained first place. “Once again, our region has done exceedingly well. We stepped it up this year and entered into the medium band and prevailed. We got a first and two thirds.”
Representing government agencies, the region’s band was joined in the parade by bands from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, mashing under the themes ‘Blazing the trail of Knowledge’ and ‘From Slavery and Indenture ship, to Freedom,’ respectively. The Guyana Public Service Union was also present in the parade as were private entities, such as Banks DIH and Ansa McAl.
The Tucber Youth Group out of New Amsterdam also contributed a small float and band to the parade. It mashed under the theme, ‘Restoring the splendor of Burnham Park’ and its float, designed by New Amsterdamer Randolph Holder, depicted the park in its glory days and what the group hopes the park will return to with a little developmental work.
Revellers gyrating to soca music blasting from stereo sets, which were not in short supply as well as the onlookers viewing the lively parade, got a kick out of a masquerader in a cow costume who charged at unsuspecting bystanders. Similarly, other masqueraders provided entertainment for the crowd by doing funny antics.
President Donald Ramotar was present at celebrations for a few minutes and greeted passersby.
It was 6.20 pm when the tail end of the parade finally made its way to State House and a brief shower of rain ensured that revellers were adequately cooled off after dancing for hours in the sun.
