Phenomenal
private sector support for Mash
Georgetown, GINA, February 12, 2004
Mash has truly become a national event and steps
are still being made to ensure that Mash continues to be a festival
for the people.
After close to five years of commitment to this national event,
the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has seen some success
in making Mash a national one with the participation of diverse
groups and organisations.
For approximately two years, the Ministry has made a special effort
to ensure collaboration with the Private Sector.
The Private Sector Mash Brunch was designed to provide an opportunity
to make the Private Sector aware of the benefits of participating
in Mash, while updating them on the national Mash agenda.
The present Administration made a deliberate effort to ensure
that the Private Sector gets involved in Mash and erase the stereotype
that Mash is only a Government of Guyana event.
With more than 10 thousand people at the Calypso competitions,
70 thousand at the Regional Competitions and over 100,000 out
on Mash day, this is an ideal opportunity for any company to make
a visible impact.
This festival provides an ideal opportunity for companies to market
their products to a large audience at a single event.
For the first time in a number of years, there is commendable
Private Sector involvement in Mash.
This has even transposed itself to the national Mash itinerary.
Carib Beer has introduced the Carib Soca Monarch competition.
This is a first on the national Mash agenda and is fully sponsored
by Carib Beer.
Soca soft drinks a Demerara Distillers Limited product, was declared
at the Private Sector Brunch the official soft drink of Mash 2004.
According to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira,
Demerara Distillers Limited has now become the biggest sponsor
since 1998 with the injection of approximately $8M.
Minister Teixeira said the Ministry is looking forward for similar
gestures from other companies for the other competitions.
She added that this was one of the major reasons for the Ministry
launching Mash months before the event, so that companies and
corporations can begin planning for their participation.
The Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) is also making a significant
contribution to Mash. It has sponsored the second prize for the
Adult Calypso competition and will also provide technical support
for all calypso competitions.
“There is enough space for all of us to be involved,”
Teixeira said.
A number of other agencies and groups have planned events to coordinate
with the national festival. Everyone is seizing the opportunity
to capitalize for economic gain in the true spirit of nationhood.
The Miss Mash International Pageant is one of the events which
have been coordinated around Mash.
Music producers, arrangers and writers have also moved up a notch
for this year’s celebrations. They are arranging and producing
a number of songs, specifically for Mash. This has proven to be
one of the driving forces to pump up Mash activities.
The Carib Soca Monarch competition has challenged performers to
go public to promote their songs.
The Mash Secretariat is making every effort to get participants
for the Costume and Float Parade registered.
TOP
Friday,
February 13, 2004