Berbice Mash surpasses expectations

By Andrew Carmichael

Thousands converged on the streets of New Amsterdam as the curtains came down on Mashramani celebrations in East Berbice.
The float parade in New Amsterdam comprised sections of the parade that were on the road in Georgetown on February 23rd buttressed by those that were put on the road as the town held its own Mash parade.
The event was organized by the Regional Mashramani Committee under the

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Region Six Administration.
Many viewed this year’s parade as the biggest ever, and some have even said it was the biggest in decades.
The parade commenced at 14:30 hours from Marks Bridge at the southern extremity of the town, and moved through Main Street at a snail’s pace, much to the delight of the crowd, to eventually make its way to the Matthew Allen Road.
The four-hour tramp took a toll on some of the revellers. This was evident as many of them were not as energetic as when they started tramping.  Among the groups participating in the parade were the Region Six Health Posse sponsored by the Regional Health Services Department. The posse portrayed the importance and benefits of a healthy lifestyle in a float designed by Maurice Moriah, which focused on care and prayer as key elements of having good health.
The Regional Democratic Council led the procession with their float depicting unity through Caricom. The Ministry of the Presidency (President’s Youth Award (PYRG), the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, along with the GTT were all part of Berbice Mash 2018.  The Ministry of Social Cohesion and ‘B’ Division Police, with a large contingent of revelers, did as they had planned to do: ‘Mash-up

N/A’. Region Six Chairman David Armogan has said he was satisfied with the turnout.
“The crowds that have come on the road today show the unity of the Guyana people. We see people of all different ethnic backgrounds out here today…and this is good; it shows that we are becoming a mature people (when) we can celebrate as a Guyanese people,” the Chairman said.
The scene was a sea of colour that embraced the carnival atmosphere. The bands on the road that were strategically placed, along with those on the trucks, provided more than adequate music for the dancing thousands. The revellers tramped to a cacophony of sounds, gyrated to the music, and just let loose in every way. The Police were out in their numbers, too, along with motorcycle patrols that sought to preserve law and order along the Mash route.
Shawn Sinclair from Essequibo said it was the first time she had come to Berbice for Mash.
“I always hear about Berbice Mash, but this is the first time for me… I love it! I gotta come back next year,” she said. A friend who was with her said she was in Georgetown on February 23rd. “Georgetown Mash is joke to Berbice Mash!” she declared. Another group said that there seemed to be more people on the road in New Amsterdam than were on the roads in Georgetown. As the floats passed, thousands remained on the road and just ‘partied’.