Travesty of our Carnival on ‘E!TV’

THE EDITOR: Did you see that rubbish on TV recently featuring Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival? That was the question on the lips of many irate folks less than twelve hours after E! TV aired this country on a segment of its Wild On series.

The theme was, “Take On Trinidad And Get Crazy At Carnival.” Having seen the hour-long presentation on Channel 49, I must agree that it was indeed a travesty. Like other enthusiasts, I have envisioned a well-balanced programme that would have highlighted every facet of TT’s Carnival. Instead, the production was juxtaposed to a home movie, starring a group of local white folks partying and frolicking with tourists and a few token black friends who at one point, included Wendy Fitzwilliam. It appeared to be about how a particular group enjoyed themselves at Carnival time, citing their perceptions of the best Carnival band, fetes and bourgeois activities like sailing down the islands on yachts. It was 15 minutes into the programme before I realised what a gross misrepresentation it was. I knew that TIDCO would be chastised, as credits at the end of the show implied their contribution. So that it was certainly no surprise being denied information when I called the next day and questioned their role in the presentation’s lack of balance. Notwithstanding, I also found humour in the number of “counterfeit” Trinis featured on the programme. Famous Barbadian entertainer, “Rupee,” was observed seemingly trying to speak with more authority than he had on aspects of TT’s Carnival. Why weren’t local artistes interviewed? One lady with a heavy Spanish accent laboured to explain in English her understanding of Carnival.

It was only after she completed the second sentence it dawned on me that English (of sorts) was spoken. But all through the hour, it was the “fresh water yankees” that tickled me. A thought for this growing coterie: Speaking proper English is not synonymous with adopting a pseudo accent. You only need to speak slower to be understood. So please do not discard your accent in a futile attempt to impress. Foreigners love our “little twang” and you should too. The problem with E! TV’s production was not so much its contents as opposed to the fundamental elements it lacked. No proper history of Carnival or its key ingredients of calypso, soca and steel pan were offered. In fact excerpts of Dimanche Gras and Panorama were never featured. But the greatest faux pas of them all was the omission of people of colour. Colour, as we know it does not mean one thousand black Africans celebrating with ten Caucasians of ten East Indians and Chinese etc. neither is it a thousand Indians partying with ten Africans or ten Caucasians and Chinese. And it certainly is not a thousand Caucasians wining with a few black or brown skinned natives, apparently thrown in for good measure. Despite escalating crime, colour still spells varied cultures, multi-races and rainbow complexions not simply co-existing, but living in harmony. Colour means unity, indivisibility and strength — the death of segregation and division by pluralism. At Carnival time, colour is our eclectic nation in a celebration that solidifies the resplendent hues that completes our unique genre. In sweet Trini vernacular, colour is “all ah we mix up — callaloo.” This is the aspect of the true Trinidad and Tobago — the value that TIDCO, the Tourism Ministry and we the citizens should always strive to procure, maintain, promote and be proud of. How dare E! TV omit showcasing the very fibre of our heritage. Moreover, why was this allowed?

DEXTER  J  RIGSBY
Mt Lambert