PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – In a speech delivered by Trinidad’s Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Marlene McDonald at a press conference regarding an update on Carnival at the Queens Park Savannah on Friday, February 6th.
It is my pleasure to deliver yet another report to the national community on the status of preparations for Carnival 2009.
INFRASTRUCTURE
We are here this morning at the Queen’s Park Savannah, the main venue for the pre-Carnival shows and I am sure that you are as pleased as I am to see what is taking place.
I have been advised by the National Carnival Commission that covered seating for over 5,000 persons has been built so far. Another 10,000 persons will be accommodated on the Northern Greens of the Savannah. Of course, standing accommodation for many more will be available throughout Port of Spain.
Some 140 vendors booths have been constructed. Vendors have been given the all clear to move in and set up in time for the first event which would be the National Panorama Semi-Finals this Sunday, February 8th, 2009. All the booths come equipped with electricity and water. Painting them generated casual employment for over 100 persons. The historic “big stage” is ready. It was completed and tested over the past week. Accreditation continues apace and so too does ticketing. The national community will hear more about progress in these areas from the [NCC] Chairman [Mr. Howard Chin Lee.]
TOBAGO
I cannot overstate how impressed I am with the status of preparations for Carnival 2009 in Tobago. On Saturday last, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, I brought greetings from the Ministry to the TUCO-backed Tobago calypso tent Magnificent Glow.
I must commend the high standard of calypsoes coming out of Tobago and thank our hosts for their warmth and hospitality. In particular, I must also thank the Vice Chairman, TUCO Tobago Zone, Mr. Wellington Quashie (King Wellington), who organised the visits to the Tent as well as the panyards and a mas camp. Special thanks must also go to the Honourable Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Secretary of Community Development and Culture, and, by extension, to the Tobago House of Assembly and its Chief Secretary, the Honourable Orville London. The advances made in Tobago under the current administration are indisputable.
I must also commend the fine example Tobago is setting for mas makers nationwide. On our visit to the mas camp led by Gloria Stoute and Associates and whose 2009 portrayal is entitled “Elements”, we were highly impressed that the band is 100% local. Fabric and accessories are sourced in Trinidad and costumes are put together, by hand, in Tobago. Apart from the neatness and attention to detail, Stoute and Associates must be applauded for their innovation. This Tobago mas band uses indigenous cocoyea and paper to create very realistic feathers. This way, the mas camp eliminates the need to import feathers altogether. This practice is truly worthy of emulation. The home-made feathers are so well done that they produce the same effect as bird feathers. Cocoyea is also widely used to give body to other parts of her costumes.
The team of senior Ministry officials and I also visited two panyards. First, the large steelband “Our Boys Steel Orchestra” with their impressive panyard. This steelband, which was formed in 1954, has the full support of the surrounding community. We learnt that during rehearsals, neighbours and friends often trek across to the panyard to enjoy the sweet sounds of the national instrument. Communities in Trinidad should follow this Tobago model of how integrated a steelband and its neighbours should be. More than just patrons of the free nightly concerts, many of the neighbours become band members and indispensable pan players and are therefore unavailable for other less desirable endeavours. In this regard, I take the opportunity to remind corporate Trinidad and Tobago that now more than ever, it is important to reaffirm their commitment to and sponsorship of cultural activities and the arts.
We were highly impressed too with RBTT Redemption Sound Setters, another Tobago steelband on par with the best of its Trinidad counterparts. What is even more commendable is that women make up approximately 75 percent of this steelband. Belting out pore-raising renditions, RBTT Redemption Sound Setters has made it to the National Panorama Semi-Finals this year, and has been a regular contender at Panorama Finals since its inception 20 years ago. Led by Manager/Arranger Winston Gordon originally from Trinidad, this steelband deserves the nation’s admiration. It is a school, where Tobago youth learn to play pan, ensures its longevity and gives the steelband an uninterrupted supply of talented, young musicians.
PAN
Staying with pan, I am pleased to report that to date we have visited eight (8) steelbands across Trinidad and Tobago. We have visited bands in Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago. More visits to steelbands based in South, Central and East Trinidad had to be deferred due to extraordinary sittings of Parliament this week. However, to the bands we were unavoidably unable to visit, we say, “We will be with you shortly.”
The first major competition among steelbands will take place this Sunday when the National Panorama Semi-Finals kick off.
Making it to the semi-finals in the category Medium Conventional Bands are the 15 bands:
• Hummingbirds Pan Groove
• CLICO Sforzata
• Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille
• Valley Harps
• Couva Joylanders
• West Side Symphony
• Carib Dixie Land
• Steel Xplosion
• NLCB Buccaneers
• Katzen Jammers
• Sangre Grande Cordettes
• Arima Angel Harps
• Potential Symphony
• Solo Pan Knights
• Harmonites
Qualifying for the semi-finals in the Large Conventional bands category are the 16 bands:
• Birdsong
• Pamberi
• Sagicor Exodus
• BPTT Renegades
• Caribbean Airlines Invaders
• PCS Starlift
• Phase II Pan Groove
• Silver Stars
• Trinidad All Stars
• WITCO Desperadoes
• NLCB Fonclaire
• Petrotrin Siparia Deltones
• TCL Group Skiffle Bunch
• Tropical Angel Harps
• Our Boys Steel Orchestra
• RBTT Redemption Sound Setters
I must congratulate you all sincerely. As for the bands that did not make it to the semi-finals, you are winners in your own right. The onus is now on you to shine in other areas such as “Pan on the Road” and in your panyards, at community events and on the road, providing general Carnival entertainment.
Results for the Small Bands category will be made available to the media when they are released by Pan Trinbago.
I again remind the national community to continue to support our steelbands at the panyards as they prepare for Panorama 2009.
MAS
To date, we have visited twenty-two (22) mas camps in Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago. Visits to more mas camps in Tobago, South, Central, North and East Trinidad will continue next week.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry, the Honourable Junia Regrello, has also been visiting regional carnival centres to see the status of preparations for Carnival 2009.
TENTS
Officials of the Ministry and I have thus far visited seven (7) tents. Already open are:
• Kaiso House
• Icons Calypso Tent
• Kalypso Revue
• Unique Calypso Tent
• Klassic Ruso
• Generation Next
• Kaiso Karavan
• Cultural Ambassadors
• Kaiso Showcase
• South Central Cultural Foundation
• Birds Calypso Tent
• Massive Gosein Roving Chutney Tent
• The Divas Tent; and
• Magnificent Glow
I take the opportunity to call on the national community to do the same and support our local artistes as they perform in the tents and at the Ministry’s 20 Anaculture concerts across the country. In this vein, I leave you with a composition by Mutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance):
So when last you went
To ah calypso tent
Bring your love and come
To meet your calypso superstars
De story tellers
And living legends of the art
Feel the flavour of soca power
Chutney soca and poetry
Social and political commentary
Humour, picong and party
Make your Carnival a celebration
Of music and information
A living experience
Of entertainment and education
So when last yuh went
To a calypso tent.
Long live kaiso and our other cultural artforms.
