The Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA) is calling for the cancellation of Mashramani, objecting "most strenuously" to Minister of Culture, Gail Teixeira's suggestion that Mashramani be postponed to May 26, (Independence Day) in the light of the suffering of East Coast residents due to the floods.

A press release from GIHA last week said the organisation believes government is being presented with an opportunity to re-think and re-evaluate how the nation celebrates Republic Day, February 23.

"An occasion of dignity and sobriety, a day of reflection and patriotism with prayers, patriotic songs, dignified cultural presentations, and speeches from community leaders would not be insensitive to those suffering through the floods. In fact, stirring calls to our birth as a sovereign state can be an inspiration and serve as a wellspring of hope for all of us at this time of national disaster," GIHA declared.

According to GIHA, Republic Day has been "taken over and consumed by the obscenities and vulgarities called Mashramani and GIHA objects, as it has done in past years, to this annual bacchanal being called national and being funded as a national festival by government when it continues to be, by and large, an African event."

The Indian organisation wants government to channel the $16 million earmarked for this year's Mashramani into relief funds for the flood victims, the release said.

GIHA is objecting to the rescheduling this year's Mash event to May 26 on two grounds.

Firstly, GIHA says it stands by its objection presented to the National Holiday Committee that May 26 should not be honoured or celebrated by any Guyanese for any reason since it marks the date of the Wismar massacre.

Secondly, while government still does not see it fit to declare May as Indian Heri-tage Month, many Indians and Indian organisations, including GIHA, schedule activities to celebrate Guyana's Indian heritage and culture throughout May and government is well aware of this.

"To reschedule Mashra-mani, an African Guyanese bacchanal, to May would show total lack of sensitivity for the different cultures of Guyana and in this case for that of the large Indian population, which does not support vulgar street dancing and obscenities as values to be encouraged and upheld," GIHA argued.

The organisation further suggested that an event like Mashramani could be held on a date of particular significance to African Guyanese. GIHA contended also that if government were to continue to fund and support Mashramani, it would only be fair that festivities of other cultural groups receive similar support.

GIHA said that Govern-ment has refused to fund its annual celebration to mark Indian Arrival Day, the Guyana Mela, despite annual requests for such financial support.