Party hearty at moka

Every single ticket was sold for Trinity College’s all-inclusive Carnival fete “Soka In Moka V” last Sunday evening. And still there were many people outside the fete wanting to buy tickets. This all-inclusive began five years ago — the idea at that time to be the first all-inclusive for the season, but two other secondary schools stole a march on Trinity this year: St Francois Girls College of Belmont and St Augustine Senior Comprehensive. However, this did not in any way affect the Moka College fete where parking, and secured at that, is the easiest. There was plenty room for partying, premium bar to the bitter end of the fete and a variety of good food, not to mention good ambience and atmosphere. The  cross section of the people present was headed by President Maxwell Richards, wife Jean and daughter Maxine, Minister of National Security Martin Joseph and wife Claire, San Fernando Mayor,  Ian Atherly, Dean Knolly Clarke and Penny Commissiong Chow.

The music at these fetes can be overbearingly loud but because of the layout at Moka, one is able to sit away from the speakers and prancing crowd  — who are this year waving cocoyea instead of rags —  as there is plenty of seating under large tents. And this is just where my colleague Debra Ravello Greaves and I happily passed the entire fete. There was much to see. One of the things which amazed me was the crowd moving forward en masse to the jump-up area once the live bands were on stage, whether the music was good, bad or indifferent. Then as the music switched to the DJ, despite the fact that it was good music, in one instance better than the band which had gone before, the masses moved back to the area of the food and drink tents. As the alternate live band started, the crowd surged forward again. If Trinity’s fete was to be used as a yardstick for what the ladies are wearing this year, it would be difficult to come up with any one style in particular, except that the majority wore very tight and fitted garments, whether tummies were bulging over the waist or hip bands, whether breasts were hanging over plunging necklines or between buttoned or laced-up tops stretched to the limit, the in-thing was very fitted and bare clothes, which prompted Debbie to remark when one lady passed in her long-sleeved pants suit “covered up and looking good.”

You could not, not notice those with their retro wear: huge natural and curly afros (bigger than Beyonce’s in Austin Powers Goldmember accompanied by similarly huge hoop earrings and funky shoes or boots. On the other hand, one or two decided to give their Old Year’s night strapless floor-length gown one more outing. The in-thing this year, however, are the shoes. Uneven ground as most of these “outdoorsy” fetes are, spike heels there were in abundance and in colours which matched the outfits. Yes, pink-fitted jersey top matched with pink high-heeled courts strapped around the ankle. Of course there were those who stuck to their true and tried jeans and jerseys, cap on head and comfortable footwear.

The moral of the story seems to be “wear what you are comfortable in.” Even some of the men were nattily attired, pretty sport shirts and well-tailored pants, while others stuck to the well-worn jeans and tank tops. If we are to judge by the sell-out crowd last Sunday, the Trinity students can rest assured that their sporting facilities will be properly upgraded, which is what part of this year’s profits will be used for. Most of the profit, however, goes to the principal Llewellyn Mac Intosh, known in the calypso world as “Shortpants” with suggestions for specific needs to be fulfilled. Heather Garcia and Janice Richards, leading lights on the organising committee, were all smiles last Sunday because “the fete in its five years has achieved more than we set out to do.”