Following a one-hour media launch in the VIP Lounge of the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Carnival 2014 was officially unveiled to the wider public and stakeholders at an outdoor reception in the concourse to the Grand Stand. A late arrival, due to being detained in Parliament, Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas was joined by his “special advisor” Edward Metivier, National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Allison Demas, vice-chairman Don Sylvester, new CEO Michael Guyadeen and commissioners for a cultural presentation, hosted by a pierrot grenade and baby doll character. The big news on the evening was that Dimanche Gras will be returned to Carnival Sunday night, and that the final of the National Calypso Monarch would return as a component of the production. Like everyone involved in T&T Carnival, the intentions of the NCC board are honourable. Unfortunately, in the real world, Carnival continues to be a bacchanal and I fear that Carnival 2014 will be immersed in it. For starters, while the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) under the chairmanship of David Lopez, is on board and of the same mind, with other NCC Special Interest Groups (SIGs) (Pan Trinbago and Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation–Tuco), there are other satellite mas entities that are at critical loggerheads with the NCBA. So, while the NCBA and NCC may contrive a much-improved parade route for mas bands, there is no consensus amongst all masquerade bands on this troubling issue, specifically in Port-of-Spain.
I am a veteran masquerader so I can attest to the madness that pervades the parade route on Carnival days, especially on the Tuesday. I have seen bandleaders break every rule, blocking intersections with vehicles and banners, sans masqueraders, from as early as Monday night to prevent bands from passing on Tuesday morning on their way to the main competition venue. I have seen mas bands going in the wrong direction; rushing through streets closed off to bands; and, large bands literally “pushing” aside small masquerade in the mad dash to the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. On Wednesday, the NCC said that all the perennial snags of the parade route would be addressed, this time incorporating various Government ministries, inclusive of the AG office? The catch, however, to all these noble plans is that implementation is going to mired in bureaucracy and fiddle-faddling with, “hopefully,” some resolution before December 31. If not, the parade route in the nation’s capital shall remain as is, probably ‘til hell freezeth over, with even more mas bands negotiating the route.
Do bear in mind, the most important point to all the good intentions and the inherent pit falls which may lie ahead. As of today, there are 100 days before Carnival Monday 2014. There is a collective sigh of relief within the calypso fraternity that calypso has been returned as a component of the Dimanche Gras show in the Savannah. Tuco president Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Masimba is reported as saying that his organisation would continue to have full autonomy of the competition, despite being part of a NCC-produced event. The news of this return might compensate for the disappointment of the Calypso Monarch competition not being accrued any increase in prize money. Pan, too, remains unchanged, except for the addition of the Carnival Monday night Groovy Soca competition, to be held in four venues nationwide. I am curious as to the tune selection bands will make for this unique competition. Also in the maelstrom and hurly-burly of plans for Carnival 2014 are the issues of copyright and media accreditation. The copyright issues are to be thrashed out by help of a symposium, promised by Demas. We shall see? I must say that in the 30-plus years I have covered Carnival, in terms of professional and humane treatment meted out to the accredited media by the NCC and its SIGs, 2013 was one of the best years. Although we continue not to be furnished with information for the preliminaries of the King and Queen of Carnival competitions, and no one spirited away our seating accommodation for the National Panorama final and on Carnival Sunday night.
One can only hope that next year would be the same, or better. On the plus side, I have attended countless functions like last Wednesday’s launch but the catering and service at the Carnival launch was one of the best I have attended. For starters, all of the food was simply divine, so much so some guests returned for seconds of the pastelles and fish kebabs. The most varied and delectable cuisine was prepared by Paula Marie Catering, from South Trinidad, and Jackie’s Catering of Barataria. Cheese and fruit stations were also operated by Gendex Catering, while two fully-stocked bars were run by BARs International. My one criticism of the cultural aspect of the launch is that, in spite of the light-heartedness of the event, proper protocol must always be observed when State officials are present. Not only was the Arts and Multiculturalism Minister not officially acknowledged, he cannot be introduced to the podium by a baby doll character as “mih chile fadda.” That is a no no.
In all fairness to the NCC organisation and its officials, despite decades, T&T Carnival continues to be a work in progress. The cultural segment of the evening’s programme featured National Calypso Monarch Pink Panther, the National Junior Calypso Monarch Marq Pierre, Chutney Soca Monarch KI, K Rich, San Juan Eastside All Stars, Arima Angel Harps, NLCB Buccaneers and Phase II Pan Groove, the latter having embarked for Nigeria on Tuesday night.
What police can do?
I must place the following on record. I have lived in Woodbrook these past 11 years and it is the first time that a community police patrol has paid a courtesy call at my residence. I must give plaudits to Cpl Mohammed and WPC Rampersad on their affable manner. Mohammed told me that the Commissioner of Police (CoP) has mandated that the community police must become more “people friendly” and I applaud this. I guess this takes care of “Serve” aspect of the police motto “To Protect and Serve?” Asking quite a number of questions, Mohammed seemed to be genuinely concerned about the safety and comfort of residents. On the topic of the police, I need to also commend the officers at St James station for the manner in which they recently conducted the business of a friend who was in a vehicular accident. Although she was the wrong driver, the officers were extremely understanding, respectful and cordial.
It’s great to see “some” police officers actually trying to soften the perceived tough, don’t care a damn, lackadaisical reputation that the service has carried through the years. On this topic, I must also compliment Senior Supt Ramlal, Sgt Worrell and officers of the South Western Division for the gesture they made last week Thursday to the special students of the Lady Hochoy Home in Penal. Not only did they provide the children with a delectable lunch but also spent some time with them, no doubt making a positive impression on the young minds. This gesture reminds me also of the positive work being done by Constables Derrick Sharbodie and Duane O’Connor with children at their police youth clubs in the west, and the work of officer Sheila Prince with the children of Beetham Estate. By the way, a little birdie told me this week that it was new National Security Minister Gary Griffith who had mandated the CoP and his officers to become more people friendly.