Legends wins Band of the Year title - a fourth time

For the fourth time in five years, the band Legends led by Mike Antoine and Ian Mc Kenzie won the Band of the Year title. This was announced yesterday by chairman of the adjudicating committee, Alvin Daniell at a media conference held at the Club House of the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Antoine and Mc Kenzie who were present at the Club House, openly showed their elation when their portrayal “Bedazzled” was pronounced winners of the 2003 competition. In addition to winning the large Band of the Year title and the George Bailey trophy, Legends also won the Harold Saldenah trophy, after also having copped the King and Queen of Carnival. Also the male and female Individual of the Year titles. In the midst of celebrating, Antoine said: “Last year we had a bit of controversy, so this year is for all the masqueraders who portrayed and carried their mas and everything”.

After four wins, Antoine said he felt great, and  this year he added, proved that they deserved first place. Legends previously won the title in 1999, 2000 and 2001. From now on Antoine said, wherever there is Carnival around the world, whether it is mas or consultancy, they will find it. “We will be at the major Carnivals that is, we do Barbados, Grenada, Boston, Texas, England, Miami, I’ll be there,” said Antoine. He congratulated the Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee, NCC Chairman Kenny de Silva; Minister of Culture Penelope Beckles, and Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy for ensuring that all had a great Carnival. “It was free flow, no back up in the Savannah, and I think from there on we can grow from strength to strength and take the Carnival abroad,” he said.

Antoine also supports the NCC running the Carnival again next year stating that this year spoke for itself in that there was a great police presence. When the NCC took over the Carnival he added,  they did it effectively, efficiently, smoothly, sweetly and they all had a great time. Earlier de Silva said they had a lot to be thankful for, given how the Carnival turned out in the end. He paid special tribute to all the bands that took part in all the Carnival parades, for the part each played in the smooth running of operations. He even noted the great help he got from the media, and for 2004 he said he would plan pursuing a media award for the best Carnival story. Daniell admitted that the judging exercise was very exhausting, but rewarding and for 2004, with the NCC running the show, he promised results by Ash Wednesday.

Here is a synopsis of the results listed by Category - Band - Portrayal:

George Bailey Band of the Year 2003:

Large - Legends - Bedazzled
Medium - Trini Revellers - Gathering of the Tribes
Small - Tribal Connections - Warriors of the Great Plains
Mini - Rosalind Gabriel - Land of the Humming Bird

Lil Hart Award 2003

Large - Masquerade Funtasia
Medium - Trini Revellers - Gathering of the Tribes
Small - Mt. Hope connection - A Sailor’s Dream
Mini - A Jackman - Sioux Festival

Harold Saldenah Award 2003

Large - Legends - Bedazzled
Medium - D’Midas Associates - D Awakening
Small - Young Aming & Associates - History in Fantasy
Mini - A Jackman - Sioux Festival

Band of the Day (Monday) 2003

Large - Starlift - If My Friends Could See Me Now
Medium - Trini Revellers - Gathering of the Tribes
Small - Tribal Connections - Warriors of the Great Plains
Mini - A Jackman - Sioux Festival

Individual of the Year - Male - D’ Sky is D Limit - Curtis Eustace
Individual of the Year - Female - Fire in D’ Sky - Alana Ward

King of the Bands - D’ Sky is D Limit - Curtis Eustace
Queen of the Bands - Fire in D’ Sky - Alana Ward

Best Instrumental Band - Roy Cape All Stars

Junior Band of the Year - Open
Large - Rosalind Gabriel - Melting Pot
Medium - Marisa Gibson Prescod - Step by Step - From Christmas to Carnival
Small - Keylemanjaro School of Art & Culture - The Spirit of Carnival
Mini - Christine Nunes - Chinese New Year

Junior Band of the Year - School
Large - Arima Boys R.C. - Save! Preserve! Conserve!
Medium - Success Laventille Composite - A Hot Trini Pelau
Small - Keylemanjaro School of Art & Culture - The Spirit of Carnival

Junior Band of the Year - Non-School
Large - Rosalind Gabriel - Melting Pot
Medium - Marisa Gibson Prescod - Step by Step - From Christmas to Carnival
Small - Classix Productions - I Once Wrote a Story
Mini - Christine Nunes - Chinese New Year