Thousands turned out on Mash Day Sunday for the traditional costume float parade and the huge crowds remained on the main route streets well into the night, having fun in a carnival atmosphere.

Participation in the celebrations was from all walks of life and float parades came from the public and private sectors.

From all accounts, it was a good show and the organisers must be commended for the hard work and dedication that was required to bring off the programme of activities.

The public response to the Mash events showed that despite the widespread and continuing fear in the society about the crime wave that surged after last year's Mash Day escape of five dangerous criminals from the Georgetown Prisons, Guyanese are determined to carry on with their lives.

Although the anti-crime fight must remain a top priority to enable a return to a safe and secure society as quickly as possible, the country cannot afford to be allowed to grind to a halt and we believe this was a main message underlying the response by the crowds to the grand Mash Day affair.

The Mash programme continues in some venues in other parts of the country and the public response is expected to be the same.

We last week noted that a very heartening aspect of this year's Mashramani festival is the underlying plea for Guyanese unity.

In almost every category of every competition, whether it be individual costume, group portrayal, dance presentation or calypso, most of the presentations are characterised by the theme of Guyanese togetherness, cultural harmony, racial unity or unity in diversity.

The emphasis, we noted, runs like a golden thread through every manifestation of the nation's material culture and it speaks eloquently of the fervent hope flickering in the hearts of most citizens after the 12-month killing and robbery rampage threatened law and order and left scores of families bereft of loved ones.

This emphasis was maintained at the major Mash Day programme in Georgetown with Guyanese coming together in celebration of a major national milestone.

It was further cause for hope that the noble dreams and visions their founding fathers held dear for this nation would become true in the not too distant future.

The trauma triggered by the crime wave did not cause Guyanese to cancel Christmas celebrations last year; the annual grand Guyana Prize for Literature event was not cancelled; the dazzling Miss Guyana Universe 2003 Pageant went on as scheduled Saturday night, and Miss Guyana Universe 2003, the beautiful Leanna Damond, was among the thousands mashing in Georgetown Sunday.