Carnival is not for the devil

Brother Gregoire blurted on Tuesday night: “Rubbish! We are part of God’s creation and we must give thanks for that!”

Bro Gregoire was at the time condemning those who say that Carnival is for the devil, at the launch of Trevor Wallace and Associates’ mas presentation for 2004, “A Band For All Seasons.” It was with this in mind that Bro Gregoire began his prayer by saying that there was a season and a time for everything. He then joked that the cassock that he was wearing on the night wasn’t his costume. Bro Gregoire also took the opportunity to ask Wallace for a costume to put in his parish during the Carnival season. He went on: “If Jesus Christ was in Trinidad for Carnival, I’m sure he would not be in Mayaro, but in Port-of-Spain.”

After offering a short prayer, Bro Gregoire blessed the costumes on display, following which a presentation to ace designer Wayne Berkeley was made for his 40 years in the business. Those years included his winners in 1973 Secrets of the Sky, 1974 Kaleidoscope, 1980 Genesis, 1989 - 1994 Heromyth, 1990, Swan Lake, Titanic, Strike up de Band and Mirage, and in 1998 Amarant-the Secret Garden. Berkeley, who suffered a stroke on February 18, 2000 (during the Carnival), had since been inactive. But Wallace conquered all by convincing him to design once again for his first ever big mas presentation. For ten years, Wallace and Associates had been presenting night mas and J’ouvert bands but his wife Michelle stated on Tuesday night that they strongly felt that they were now ready to take on the challenge, having brought sections in Funtasia and Masquerade in the last couple of years. The inaugural presentation will comprise eight sections: Sun, Summer, Autumn, Spring, Winter, Rainy Season, Dry Season, Guava Season, and the music of the band Imperials along with Djs O’B and CG.