SERIOUSLY RETHINK THE MASH ROUTE

Feb 08, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
The idea to shift the MASH parade from its traditional route is not a sensible one when all that is involved is taken into consideration. The Church Street route captures a more natural active population view, that includes Bourda Market with its vendors and shoppers, populated cross streets with homes accustomed to the Mash day hang that they plan for, with overseas meets, and there is the wide open Merriman’s Mall where the cash strapped City Council earns income. There on the Mall hundreds of vendors are stalled out, dozens of carpenters pick up a raise putting together stalls for the day. Around the turn every gas station tarmac houses a party mood and the congestion of humanity consuming beverages and barbeque meats add to the day. This picnic party mood jumps Lamaha Street and it persists long after the last float had passed. There’s no more viable combination than nationalism, stress relief and good commerce.
What is going to replace this? A route from Stabroek tarmac up Brickdam? In the best of days Brickdam is easily recognised as an avenue of Government buildings that lack the humanity evident of a Regent Street to make a comparison, that tells you that Brickdam is “festival sterile,” why opt to sacrifice the selling of ‘MASH’ that the Church Street route has accomplished to an impressive level with its inclusion of groups that previously shied away from this festival and lose the show case appeal of the Camp Street junction and Newtown and Kitty audience’ both passing and stationery. I would urge Mr. Scantlebury to rethink this new route, the last Brickdam Jubilee Year route was dismal. Recharge the mood, this is not a cultural or political sacrifice that is necessary to be made now, however the ball is in your court.
Barrington Braithwaite

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