Kamla jumps in People’s Band

Wearing a feathered head-piece, Persad-Bissessar chipped along with Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Winston “Gypsy” Peters and several members of her Cabinet, under heavy security, in the band which made its first appearance on the road for Carnival.

After crossing the Savannah, the band made its way along Tragarete Road.

Persad-Bissessar and the band met up with Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, Deputy CoP Jack Ewatski and other senior police officials on patrol. She thanked them for the efforts of the Police Service to ensure the safety of revellers.

“Thank you very much,” she told Gibbs, Ewatski and each of the officers with them.

As she chipped along with the People’s Band, Persad-Bissessar waved a bandana bearing the red, white and black colours of the TT flag and took time to take photos with children and adults along the route.

Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Social Development Minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh also accompanied Persad-Bissessar and Peters. Persad-Bissessar seemed to especially like Machel Montano’s “Advantage” when it was played by the band’s DJs.

The meeting point for the band was at Hart Street, Port-of-Spain at 1 pm, but at that point, very few heeded the call to put on an old costume or create a new one and jump up for free in the band created by Government.

Among the masqueraders were two women in sailor costumes, another two in a red and yellow costume made out of satin and a few who came out in bikinis and swimsuits decorated with sequins and beads. Revellers who were still on the road from yesterday morning’s J’ouvert also joined in the band.

When the band began making its way up Abercromby Street, other masqueraders joined in the band with pants made of brown cotton with orange and brown fabric sewn on. Two People’s Bands are expected to hit the streets in San Fernando and Mayaro today.