THOUSANDS of revellers put aside fears of rampant crime and alleged terrorist activities, and took to the streets of Port-of-Spain in a celebration of Carnival as the reign of the Merry Monarch reached its climax yesterday.

This year’s celebrations were by and large a merry affair free from major crime and lawlessness, thanks to an unprecedented number of police and army officers who stood guard at every street corner. Contacted for comment late yesterday evening, Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown heaped praises on the security forces, who he said were responsible for keeping this year’s Carnival generally crime free. “Everything is working beautifully up to now,” an elated Brown said, adding that he was always confident the security arrangements implemented for the long Carnival weekend were sufficient. In fact, he told Newsday security arrangements implemented this year would form the nucleus of security arrangements for future Carnivals. Weeks prior to the reign of the Merry Monarch, concerns about a rising tide in criminal activity from different quarters of the national community and reports of alleged terrorist activity in Trinidad and Tobago,  threatened to cast a dark cloud over the event. However all fears and misgiving were swept away as thousands of masqueraders and spectators flocked to the nation’s capital to participate in the festivities.

Large numbers of tourists were seen mingling freely with locals in the city, despite recent travel advisories from the United Kingdom, Australia and several UN agencies. American celebrities, including soap opera star Victoria Rowell (Drucilla on The Young and the Restless and famous attorney Johnnie Cochrane, were in the country taking in the sights and sounds of Carnival. From as early as 6 am, a steady stream of vehicles was seen entering the city. Motorists who entered Port-of-Spain via Lady Young Road, complained of having to “stew for hours” in traffic which stretched from Morvant Junction over the hills and into the city. All major entry and exit points were monitored by police, while a National Security helicopter patrolled the skies above the city. National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee toured parts of the city with top-ranking members of the security agencies, including Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier-General Ancil Antoine.   
     
There was hardly a street which was not crowded with spectators and masqueraders.  One band which clearly did not suffer from fears of crime or alleged terrorism was Poison’s “Fleurs De Passion” which heralded the birth of the first “super band” in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. Poison’s 6,000 plus masqueraders literally snaked their way through town with the head at the corner of Park and Frederick Streets while the tail was still passing the judging point at South Quay. The head of Poison reached the Queen’s Park Savannah around 1.44 pm and it took approximately three hours for all of its 32 sections to cross the stage. Within Poison’s ranks were several local and foreign personalities. Health Minister Colm Imbert, attired in full costume, mingled freely with the masqueraders on the Savannah track and appeared not to have a care in the world. Imbert told Newsday he was enjoying his Carnival. There was a heavy security presence at the principal judging venues of the Savannah, South Quay and Adam’s Smith Square and there was smooth procession of bands at all three locations. Security arrangements were implemented from Carnival Friday, with police carrying out road-blocks and increasing surveillance in “hot-bed” areas in Laventille and Morvant. However, while criminal activities relating to the Carnival celebrations were mainly minor offences, elsewhere in the country there were three murders and seven road fatalities over the long weekend.

TRADITIONAL MAS returned to the Queen’s Park Savannah with a vengeance yesterday and showed its modern day counterpart how Carnival was meant to be played in the Big Yard. In fact, the return of traditional characters like Sailors, Red Indians, Devils and Midnight Robbers proved both entertaining and delightful for spectators who told Newsday they were fed up with the seeming obsession by Carnival bands with “jump and wine”.

As is customary at the Big Yard on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Harts was the first band to cross the stage around 8.10 am with their 2003 presentation “The Strip” and they treated the early spectators to the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas.  Next up at 9.12 am were Trini Revellers with “Gathering of the Tribes” who showcased the indigenous tribes of the Americas with their mix of colourful plumage and intricately designed costumes as they danced to the pulsating sounds of JMC Triveni with uncanny agility. They were followed by Brian Tico Skinner and Associates’ presentation of  “Kidnapping is Hell” and Funtasia’s  “Colours of the Wind”. However the stars of the Big Yard were undoubtedly Mt Hope Connection’s “A Sailor’s Dream”. They demonstrated through their well choreographed dance moves and immaculately white sailor uniforms, that traditional Carnival is truly alive and kicking. The assembled patrons in the North and Grand Stands applauded and cheered wildly as the sailors finished their routine and the sailors responded in kind with a salute.

Next up was the Midnight Robber band, Mystery Raiders with its “Ye Robbers of Marli Street” presentation. In their trademark linguistic style, the robbers warned about the looming threat of war in Iraq and the presence of “weapons of mass destruction” in Trinidad. One robber even wore a George W Bush face mask to press home his point on Iraq while another dragged around a float depicting a barricade at the US Embassy on Marli Street. Though Peter Minshall vowed that his “Ship of Fools” would not enter the Big Yard’s port of call, one of his sailors strangely found himself in the Grand Stand. When defending Band of the Year Legends arrived at the Savannah with “Bedazzled” at 11.02 am, it seemed like Big Mike Antoine had taken a cue from Mt Hope Connection. Dashing back and forth between the various sections, Antoine led his masqueraders in a frenzied but free-flowing dance instead of the normal jump and wine routine. The Legends players rose to the challenge, transforming the Big Yard into a kaleidoscope of colour and emitting waves of energy in all directions. On hand was 2003 King of the Band Curtis Eustace with a scaled down version of his “D Sky is D Limit” costume.

Also gracing the Savannah stage were former Panorama champs Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars with their sailor band while new champions Exodus made an appearance. As far as the Road March race goes, Faye Ann Lyons’ “Display” was the runaway favourite with the DJs and she even got help from fellow artistes Allison Hinds, Ronnie McIntosh and Destra Garcia who all sang her song. David Rudder and Carl Jacobs’ “Trini to D Bone” was another crowd favourite, while National Soca Monarch Iwer George’s “Ah Home” received limited airplay.
Poison’s “Fleurs de Passion” was entering the Savannah around 1.44 pm with Barbarossa’s “Comme Se Comme Sa” somewhere in their wake.  Among the celebrities playing mas with Poison was “Young and The Restless” actress Victoria Rowell (Drucilla Winters). A total of ten medium, 16 small, 17 mini and five large bands are competing for top honours in their respective categories. There was a heavy police presence at the Savannah with uniformed officers patrolling the grounds on foot and on horseback while the National Security helicopter flew overhead a few times. National Carnival Commission (NCC) security officers were also kept busy ushering band after band across the stage. Senate president Dr Linda Baboolal and her husband Michael chose to observe the festivities from the comfort of the Grand Stand, while Health Minister Colm Imbert opted to mingle with masqueraders on the Savannah track. National Carnival Commission Chairman Kenny De Silva also observed activities from the Grand Stand and appeared pleased with what he saw.

A MINISTRY of National Security helicopter passed overhead periodically, Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy oversaw events, and a dozen uniformed officers were supplemented by a visit of MOPS Squad and two mounted officers, plus a small group of soldiers. Further, most of the large bands provided their own band security personnel, Legends for example employing a whopping 325 officers. All this made for a peaceful day at Adam Smith Square, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook.

While most in the public stands lapped up the frenzy passing in front of them, many families took five, feeling secure and comfortable enough to picnic on the grass behind the stands. The action began at 8.15 am with Barbarossa’s “Comme Se, Comme Sa” which took 20 minutes to pass, followed by Poison’s “Fleurs de Passion” taking 50 minutes. Viewers enjoyed a wide variety of presentations, some truly making a special impact. Legends’ “Bedazzled” made an impact by its size, requiring 58 minutes for all 15 sections of 2,500 masqueraders to pass the stage area. They were perhaps the most disciplined band, each section being well separated from the others, each group of the masqueraders bursting forth on stage to great effect. Many of the bands had a section which did an introductory dance, and Legends made their mark here. A group quietly filed on, in spiritual all-white, representing peace. They were followed by a couple dozen lovely girls, beautifully dressed in our nationalist red, white and black, this time doing a celebratory dance to David Rudder’s “Hallelujah” and “Trini to the Bone”. Trini Revellers and De BOSS (Belmont Original Stylish Sailors) also gave good introductory dances, revellers forming files and then circles. One band which ditched the theatrics which had previously made a name for it, was Peter Minshall’s Callaloo Company. Minshall’s “Ship of Fools” offered a plain all-white sailor band, including one or two unusual headpieces like an elephant head, but the effort seemed half-hearted. The band took just 13 minutes to pass the stage-area, with many stragglers later passing to catch up and with one of his floats being driven past presumably to be exhibited at a more “deserving” venue.

Making a big splash was the Mystery Raiders’ “Ye Robbers of Marli Street”, a Midnight Robber band which criticised the United States for its embassy take-over of Marli Street, Port-of-Spain, and for its impending war against Iraq. The Robbers were fast-talking and slow-moving, striding about the stage in their variety of impressive outfits, giving verbal and visual displays of their political message. Sporting a mask of US President George Bush, one King George Bushmaster offered several weapons of mas destruction including The National Courthouse Clothes Commission (NCC) and “a misguided missile called Pan — one week its coming from the left, next week from the right”. The Robbers stood their ground against several persons walking through the band and against the loud music of the next big band coming on-stage. Another ole time mas band, the four-strong Minstrel Players, had earlier faced a similar fate, their rich, well-blended voices being threatened by a music-truck, ironically blasting a heavy-bass of remake of Lord Kitchener’s ole time “The Needle”. Other traditional bands which impressed were Tribal Connection’s “Warriors of the Great Plains” and Jab Molassie’s “More Terrorist”. Trini Revellers’ “Gathering of the Tribes” was very pretty bikini-and-beads mas.

A crimson first section gave way to an intensely relaxing spread of pink — plumes and flags, and ultimately regal revellers in leopard skin cloaks, and finally very impressive Native American large red-and-white feathered headdresses. Masquerade/Funtasia’s “Colours of the Wind”  also offered lovely, well- sectioned costumes, the topical Desert Storm section recreating the feel of a desert by the muted yellow, while and orange segments of its flags and capes, all caught up in the wind. Mount Hope Connection’s “A Sailor’s Dream” really drew the crowd’s applause as a group of its tourist masqueraders performed the band’s elaborate introductory dance. De BOSS really impressed with their very intricately colourful sailors. Several steelbands paraded including Desperados, Starlift and Invaders. Newcomers Skandal-R-Us, a medium-sized “pretty mas” band  could well place high in the judging, given their impressive colour combinations.  A rough count of the songs played by each passing truck put Faye-Ann Lyons’ “Display” clearly ahead to win the Road March. Over seven hours at Adam Smith Square yesterday, Lyons’ “Display” was played 12 times, ahead of Destra’s “It’s Carnival” which was played seven times and Iwer George’s “Home” played five times.

THE PARADE of the bands in South Trinidad featured eight bands competing for the main title at three judging points. For the second year Skinner Park was not used as a judging point.

There was a strong focus on portrayal of Native American Indians, including Fireworks Promotions “Warrior Of Yori”, Ivan Kalliecharan’s “Native Festival”, Black Fox Production’s “Dance With Wolves”, Lionel Jagessar’s ‘”Cheyenne Summer” and A Shaffie & Associates with “A Tribute To The First Nation”. Miguel Marchan and Associates portrayed “‘Carnival Forever, Forever Carnival”, partly a depiction Vikings. Zinod Mohammed put together the portrayal “Ceremonial Worshippers,” while Owen Hinds “Miracles” was the last and biggest of the bands. In the Road March race the popular choices Iwer George’s “Ah Home” , Destra Garcia’s “Carnival” and David Rudder’s  “Trini to the bone” were featuring. However Fay-Ann Lyons “Display” seemed the most popular.

SAFETY concerns appeared to take a backseat yesterday as thousands braved the scorching sun to view the Downtown Carnival Parade of Bands on South Quay yesterday.

Police and security guards were out in full force as bands made their way through the streets of the city. Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy also made an appearance and inspected the proceedings downtown.
There also seemed to be an increase in the number of security personnel for the bands, who assisted in keeping order in various sections. One of the first bands crossing the stage was Skandal-Us, with a presentation dominated by the colours silver, blue, green, gold and red. There was strong support for the 2003 Panorama winners, Exodus, as they made their way across South Quay. Other steel bands present included Solo Pan Knights and Rhapsody Steel Orchestra of Arima. “Comme Se Comme Sa”, Barbarosa’s presentation which had approximately ten sections overall made an early appearance at the venue followed by Poison with their “Fleurs de Passion” with some 32 sections and 13 music trucks. Destra Garcia’s “Carnival” seemed to be a favourite with this band, but the controversial “More Gyul” by Antiguan artiste, Wanski, was also heard.