Officials were forced to extend the competition to yesterday after a late start and unruly behaviour in some sections of the audience affected the concluding sequences Friday at the National Park.

The dance contest featured four categories: 'Interpretive', 'Social Commentary', 'Religious Beliefs' and 'Legends and Traditions'.

North Georgetown Secondary School won the judges' approval in the 'Interpretive' category with their performance of "Fusions".

David Rose Community High School took second spot and Richard Ishmael came in third.

In the 'Social Commentary' category, St Stanislaus College emerged the winner with Roslee Johnson's presentation of "A Child's Woes".

North Georgetown gained first place in the 'Religious' category with their presentation of "Praises", while St John's College, which presented "African Fever" placed first in the 'Legends and Traditions' category.

Mash celebrations to be extensively marketed
CULTURE Minister Gail Teixeira has noted that several plans are in place for the Mashramani Republic Anniversary celebrations to be marketed extensively over the next couple of years and these will be handled by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir.

Representatives of the Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) are on the Mash Management Committee, she noted.

According to Minister Teixeira, Guyana needs to develop good marketing skills and tourism-marketing targeting the Guyana diaspora, should be part of the plans.

She said that after each Republic Anniversary, the Mash Management Committee analyses the festival.

Information received so far from the Mash Secretariat suggests that if Mash is well marketed and entrepreneurs take advantage of the economic possibilities of the approximately one month of celebrations, there will be tremendous gain for the nation, the minister pointed out.

The Ministry of Culture has already gained considerable support from the private sector for this year's observances, she said.

These include full sponsorship for the Junior Calypso competitions by Banks DIH Limited with Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (DEMTOCO) and Caribbean Star contributing substantially to some large competitions, Ms. Teixeira said.

She added that the ministry is, however, open to approaches from the private sector to sponsor various events on the Mash calendar, including the Road March Competition, which is an unsponsored event, and the Steel Band Competitions.

Carib Beer has utilised Mash as part of their marketing strategy for this season with a string of activities, while several other businesses are using the festival for advertising purposes, she said.

She reported that the ministry has also granted permission for anyone to use the Mash 2003 logo for advertising and other business purposes.

Copies of the logo can be uplifted from the Mash Secretariat or the ministry, Main Street, Georgetown.

Sanata Textiles has seized the opportunity and has since printed material with the logo, which are sale.