Political portrayals dominate south Jouvert

UNC leader, Basdeo Panday, wife Oma, President-elect Max Richards, David Rudder’s “Trini-to-de-bone” 2003 offering and Education Minister’s Hazel Manning infamous “breakfasses” slip were among the most popular depictions at Jouvert 2003 celebrations in San Fernando, yesterday. San Fernando West MP, Diane Seukeran, and Police Commissioner, Hilton Guy also made unexpected appearances at the celebrations which saw one of the largest turn-outs in recent years.

The festivities were declared open by San Fernando Mayor, Gerard Ferreira at 5.50 am, calling on revellers for a “clean, safe Carnival,” while having “good, clean fun.” First band to cross the Harris Promenade judging point was, “Brown Sugar Boys,” who declared their intentions when a female masquerader, carrying a placard reading, “Oma have a big a “count”, courted a male masquerade who was outfitted in a cardboard suit stuffed with “pounds”, with one pound in a strategic location below the groin. Another masquerader was then pounded with a mallet while carrying a placard reading, “oh-mah gets pounds.” While three revellers “jammed” in front the judges under the banner: “A wining president.” Not to be left out were several “Trinis to de bone and skin,” as one extremely thin reveller proudly displaying all of his natural “Trini” bones for the bemused audience. The Sando Warriors presentation of “Sando in K US” followed, with several masqueraders carrying signs reading: “fish market too smelly,” “flood in de bowl,” “ah spring in Vale, with no water” and “el(r)ection paving.”

Then it was the turn of Jouvert Lovers with “Never a dull moment” who proclaimed “Oma have stones” as an extremely endowed woman paraded across the stage, with two large green balloons hanging from her costume. Another proclaimed “Panday have real pounds” while president elect Max Richards was described as “de president like jam and wine,” while a Sadiq Baksh impersonator darted from side to side under the banner “Sadique fraid to appear.” Then it was the turn of the Blue Boys with their presentation of “Blame it on Bas” who blamed the spiralling crime rate on “thong bandits controlling Patrick”. A female “Education Minister” impersonator followed, in a brightly coloured dress, and carrying a menu that read “Hazel breakfasses: eggss, bakess and sharkess, baconss, and buljolss.” National Security Minister, Howard Chin Lee, also came in for special mention when one reveller revealed “Town say Chin Lee must leave the security wok,” and promptly discarded his uniform into a giant wok.

Not to be left out was San Fernando West MP, Diane Seukeran, who appeared in Artherly’s by the park presentation, “Balisier save we” under the banner “bringing out the youth vote.” According to Artherly’s, TT was saved from “Sad dick,” “Ganja singh,” “Oma baba and the 40 thieves,” and “Kamla “ah want pipe.” While the southern “Trini to we bone” band explained the UNC’s defeat at the 2002 general elections ad “Manning give Panday bone,” and “PNM give dem bone.” Several mud bands and steel orchestras also paraded before the judges providing an entertaining mix for the large crowd of spectators who had gathered from as early as 4 am. Afterwards Police Commissioner, Hilton Guy, said he was “satisfied” with security arrangements for Jouvert celebrations after walking through a thick crowd of revellers and spectators who had congregated on the Promenade. He appealed to the public to “behave” themselves, saying the police was ready to deal with any “lawbreakers.”