Thousands flock NA streets as Berbice Mash concludes celebrations

The curtains came down on Mashramani celebrations 2024, with a road march and costume float parade in New Amsterdam on Sunday.
The event in Berbice, which is traditionally referred to as “the people’s Mash”, is the last official activity on the calendar of activities for Mashramani 2024.
Revellers waited at their favourite spots for the band of their choice before joining the procession as they gyrated along Main Street.
More than one dozen bands took part in Sunday’s event, including those from several Government Ministries.
Notable absent were the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry along with the Agriculture Ministry – two Ministries which are known for their large turnout at the New Amsterdam Mash costume and float parade.
The region’s neighbour, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), which has, in the past, been supportive of the event, also had no representation.
Nevertheless, the event could be considered a success as the large parade moving at literally a tortoise’s pace took about two hours to pass an area. This gave people ample time to participate in the entertainment coming from each of the bands.
In keeping with the Mash theme, “Celebrating Our Peoples and Our Prosperity’, the Education, Natural Resources, Housing and Water, Public Works, and Health Ministries along with the Office of the Prime Minister all depicted various aspects of the country’s prosperity.
The Regional Democratic Council of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) hosted the event and displayed its float under the theme “Building resilient communities by prioritising healthcare, food security and recreational amenities”.
As such, the two new hospitals being constructed in the region were highlighted along with the abundant agriculture scope the region has. The float, which had several parts, also highlighted the recent transformation of areas into parks.
Regional Executive Officer Navindra Persaud told Guyana Times the focus was on the region’s wealth and prosperity.
He said it also showcased the harmony that existed among the six major ethnicities in Guyana, as well as new developments taking place in the region, including the unprecedented development taking place in the region from housing construction to road improvement and the installation of street lights. It also focused on agriculture portraying the region as one of the main bread baskets in Guyana and the Caribbean, with sugar, rice and cash crops being featured. The float also depicted the beautiful landscape of the region and some of its world-recognised sportsmen and women including Shamar Joseph.
The parade ended at the New Amsterdam Stelling Road after the almost two-mile journey from Marks Bridge, but the festivities did not end there as Main Street, New Amsterdam hosted the street fair which saw thousands flocking the road and beverages flowing. (G4)