The Ministry of Natural Resources (MoNR) on Friday launched its Mashramani band at the Sophia Exhibition Centre before a small gathering as it prepares to take to the streets with a larger contingent than in the past to celebrate Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Republic anniversary.
MoNR Administrator Beverley Alert, who spoke on behalf of Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, who could not attend the launch, encouraged students to go learn about the difference between being independent and being a republic.
“Today we sit at the United Nations (UN), we sit at the Commonwealth and other international agencies as equals with our former colonial masters. Today, fifty years on, you might want to say that we have grown and indeed we have but we are still a very young nation and at this point in time…. our country is set for unprecedented growth…,” Alert said.
She reminded the youths present that they have the opportunity to make Guyana great. Fifty years, she noted, is a turning point in the history of the country and the MoNR is ready to celebrate this milestone with jubilation as members of its mash band dance in the streets wearing their vibrant costumes.
The costumes were designed this year by renowned Guyanese designer Neilson Nurse, of Nandre’s Creations. According to Nurse, the costumes were created to reflect sustainable mining practices in relation to the Ministry’s theme, “Guyana Rising, The Potential of Eco-Friendly Mining”. The designer who has been creating costumes for the ministry over the past years said that he has always been one to incorporate a lot of the colour ‘green’ in his costumes but this year, has decided to put a spin on his designs by adding brighter, more playful colours.
Nurse’s costumes sported large portions of blue highlighted with bits of reds, oranges and greens. His models wore also golden bejeweled pieces that signified Guyana’s golden jubilee republic anniversary.
Meanwhile, MoNR Public Affairs Officer Stephon Gabriel explained that they chose to promote the ministry’s theme in their costumes as Guyana is moving towards a decade of development that will support that of the sustainability of our forest, and environment while promoting ecological mining activities countrywide.
The MoNR will be taking to the road on Mashramani Day with a band of a hundred and fifty persons, thereby placing it in the small band category. The turnout this year it said to be larger than last year, which saw the participation of a hundred persons.
The launch, which lasted just under an hour, opened with the pupils of Sophia Primary singing two national songs followed by a dance performed by the staff of MoNR. The other entertainment item that made the short programme was a song, “Forest Provide,” that was enthusiastically sang by local artiste Joseph Smith, who goes by the stage name ‘Hot Ras’.
