J'Ouvert characters poke fun at Sando Mayor

SAN FERNANDO Mayor Ian Atherly, who was the subject of several Jouvert portrayals, predicted  a “safe and clean” Carnival for the southern city yesterday. At the time he was leading the Atherly’s by the Park Jouvert presentation, “San Fernando Alive” across the main judging point on Harris Promenade.

Atherly, who had earlier proclaimed South Jouvert open at 5.05 am, said he visited several competition points and was pleased with spectator turnout and the standard of mas. “I am indeed happy with what has been happening so far. It has been clean so far and this is what we have been asking the citizens to portray. San Fernando is alive and I think it augers well for what is going to happen next year,” he said.

Commenting on Pan Trinbago’s objections to this year’s steelpan route, Atherly reiterated that an agreement had been reached between the City Corporation and the steelband body. “That was not a controversy, it was a lack of communication because we had meetings up to Tuesday with the Pan Trinbago people, and rather than come back when the chairman agreed to what was happening, they went to the newspaper. “Everything was settled yesterday and we have accommodated them because we are about the people of San Fernando.”

The Mayor was portrayed by ole mas characters in several Jouvert bands, with masqueraders focusing on his playful slap on the rear of soca artiste Denise Belfon at an all-inclusive fete last weekend. One character from D’ Blue Boys walked close behind a well-proportioned female masquerader. Another sported a “golden posey”proclaiming that Atherly was crowned Mayor, while another, wearing a red glove had a placard with stated: “Atherly get ketch red-handed again.” Some 17 Jouvert bands were scheduled to appear at the Harris Promenade judging point.