A decision has been made by the Culture Department and the Mashramani Secretariat to extend the Mashramani parade route in an effort for more persons to be allowed to view the parade on February 23.
During an interview on the Jumpstart morning show on 94.1FM, Minister with responsibility for Culture, Nicollette Henry announced that the Department has been listening to the concerns of citizens and has decided that although the parade will still head to Durban Park along Brickdam, the route to get there will be extended.
She said it is now likely that the parade will begin in the vicinity of the Bank of Guyana or at Camp and Church Street and move along Avenue of the Republic before turning onto Brickdam and heading to Durban Park.
Minister Henry said a definitive decision will be announced soon.
When questioned about the decision to change the route, she explained that with the parade ending at Durban Park, there were some security concerns with regards to places that it would have had to pass if it remained on that Church Street route.
News Source understands that the Police raised concern about the parade with its large following, passing in front of the President’s Office.
While not offering details of the security concerns, she also said Durban Park could accomodate twice the number of people than could have been accommodated at National Park. Additionally, there will be no admission cost attached for entering Durban Park.
Ms. Henry said she would have liked the parade to come along the East Coast corridor, but that idea did not find favour with the stakeholders, including costume designers, who worried that the long distance, coupled with the atlantic breeze could cause problems for the floats and costumes as they are maneuvered along that roadway.
Moving forward, the Minister said, moves will be made to add new faces to the Mashramani Secretariat as efforts get underway to make the events more vibrant.
She also announced today that Banks DIH Limited will be hosting a Mashramani Avenue Lime every Friday until mash on Main Streeet and Ansa McAl will be hosting a soca stage show at the Cultural Centre’s tarmac.
Additionally, the sea wall band stand will become a home on Sundays for calypso lovers as the calypsonians competing in the monarch competition will host their rehearsals on the seawalls.
Mash Parade Photo Credit: Amanda Richards
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