Caribbean News
National Children’s Mashramani Competition launched; Guyana celebrates 50 Years as Republic
#Guyana, February 13, 2020 — The Ministry of Education launched the National Children’s Mashramani Competition today at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) signalling the start of the final leg of the Children’s Mashramani Competition that will take place on February 13 and 14, 2020 at the NCC. On Saturday February 15, 2020, the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade will be held starting from Parade Ground and ending at the National Park.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Education Dr. the Hon. Nicolette Henry said that the competition will contribute to Guyana’s Republican Jubilee Celebration.
She said that the National Theme for this year’s Mashramani which states: Guyana Together: Reflect, Celebrate, Transform, underscores the importance of all Guyanese to unite as one people, in pursuit of a prosperous destiny for this great nation.
According to Minister Henry, the theme also asks of Guyanese to reflect and acknowledge the struggles and sacrifices our ancestors made. She said, “This reflection should build our determination to validate those sacrifices by enhancing our national state of identity with class and dignity that is above and beyond international standards.”
Moreover, Minister Henry reminded those in attendance that Guyana is in its decade of development. She said that this developmental phase should instil in Guyanese the need to take Guyana to the next level.
Nevertheless, Minister Henry noted that 2020 is a year of transformation, restoration and socio-economic evolution, so there is much to celebrate.
Speaking to the students, the Education Minister said, “As you showcase your talents allow your festivity, performance and spectacle to educate the public about what this republican status means, or even that it exists. Your role is to display that brilliant transformation through your heartened performances.”
The Children’s Mashramani Competition began in 1992 and is organised by the Unit of Allied Arts. The administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Ms. Lorraine Barker-King said that due to the interest, vision and contribution of Minister Henry in the schools, there have been improvements in many ways regarding the arts.
She said that the arts have become more visible and physical education is now being done in most if not all schools across Guyana.
She said that this improvement could not have been possible either without the support from the officers within the Ministry, teachers, parents and members of the community.
“We have to ensure that the arts progress and take its rightful place at the centre of the curriculum”, Ms. Barker-King noted.
She added that the opening ceremony was intended to reflect on the history and beauty of Guyana and its people through the arts.
Supporting the Ministry to ensure the competition and costume parade is a success are three corporate sponsors. Banks DIH Ltd will be sponsoring the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade to be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020, under the Malta Supreme, Rainforest Water and Igloo Ice Cream brands. Ansa McAL Trading Limited through its Smalta Brand will be sponsoring the National Children’s Mashramani Competition at the National Cultural Centre while the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) will be sponsoring the trophies.
Corporate Communications Officer at Ansa McAL, Mr. Treiston Joseph said that his company is happy to be a part of the event. He said that it is an important opportunity for students to display their talents and that Ansa McAL wants to play a role in the advancement and development of Guyanese.
Communications Manager of Banks DIH Ltd, Mr. Troy Peters said that the Children’s Mashramani activities are significant as Guyana celebrates its 50th Republic Anniversary. He said that the Costume and Float Parade will bring colour, creativity, teamwork and enjoyment to the children and spectators come Saturday.
Following the opening ceremony, steel pans were handed-over to the Mahdia Secondary School which represented the continuation of an exercise by the Ministry of Education to distribute steel pans to schools across Guyana to enhance the music programme.
Additionally, there was an exhibition held in the foyer of the NCC where various departments of the Ministry of Education showcased the services they offer and what developments have been taking place.
GUYANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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