Youths go fourth

From toddlers to teenagers, youths came out to play their mas at the Flying Fish Swim Club Kiddies Carnival at the PSA grounds on Saturday, and as was expected the youthful masqueraders presented a colourful display of interesting costumes. The Band of the Year large was captured by Rosalind Gabriel’s “Nah Leaving,” the lone entrant in the category. The Small Band of the Year went to  “Mardi Gras,” a presentation of Spoilt Rotten Kids. Liam Rahim portraying “D’Ritual of Revelry” from “Nah Leaving” was crowned King and Avina Marie Lee portraying “Jewels of the Botanic Gardens” also from “Nah Leaving” captured the queen title. “Nah Leaving” is  Gabriel’s 16th Carnival band of children’s mas  and she seems set to continue her winning ways this Carnival. The band depicts some of the positives of life in TT. “Mardi Gras” placed first in the small band category with “Queen of the Mardi Gras,” Megan Nunes, placing first in the ten  to 12 age group.

“Mardi Gras” costumes include many important elements of original Mardi Gras festival costuming such as: feather boas, decorative masks, beads and doubloons. The band also incorporated the official colours of the festival which dates back to 1872 — the colour purple representing justice; green for faith and gold which stands for power. Each of the four sections of the band includes at least one or more of these colours. Mardi Gras 2004 is the fourth annual Children’s Carnival Presentation by Spoilt Rotten Kids. The band is led by Christine Nunes and designed by Terry Ann Williams.