The public can look forward to a number of celebratory activities to observe this year’s Republic Anniversary. The theme for Guyana’s 2016 Mashramani is “Celebration of Diversity, Unity and Sovereignty”.
However, as 2016 is the year of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, this year’s Mash activities will be amplified and will begin on January 23 and 24 in the mining community of Linden with the Steelband concert.
This will be followed by the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition on January 30 at the National Cultural Centre where at least 12 calypsonians will be competing for the title, cash prize, trophies and a spot in the Senior Calypso Competition. On January 31, the Steelband competition for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) will be held.
On February 6, the final of the Chutney Monarch Competition will be held at the Synthetic Track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara followed by a concert for the elderly at the Promenade Gardens on February 7. The Mash Exhibition will take place on February 10 at the National Museum.
The semi-finals of the Senior Calypso Competition are billed for February 12 in Linden, while on February 19 at Demerara Park, Georgetown, the showdown for the adult calypso competition will take place.
On February 13, there will be the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Steelband competition as well as the masquerade competition. Between February 17 and 19, the children’s competition will take place at the National Cultural Centre, while the children’s parade will happen on February 20 at Parade Ground.
The National Exhibition on Arts and Facts will be held at the Castellani House on February 22. This will make way for the flag-raising ceremony on the morning of the 23rd at Parliament Building. After the flag-raising ceremony, there will be a family fun day at the Indian Monument Garden commencing at 12:00h.
The National Steelband Competition is billed for February 28 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. There also will be a Child Art Competition that will be done between February 26 and March 11 at Castellani House.