Sando bids farewell to King Carnival

THE reign of the Merry Monarch came to an end yesterday evening, but the fete continued in downtown San Fernando as revellers paid tribute to Carnival 2004.

From all reports, Carnival in the southern city was generally crime-free and saw masqueraders and panmen taking a new route in the city. Prior to Carnival festivities, this new route, outlined by Mayor Ian Atherly, caused friction with the South/Central arm of PanTrinbago, whose members vowed to adhere to the old route. However, an 11th hour meeting convened between the City Fathers and the panmen on the weekend saw the volatile situation put to rest with a compromise. From then on, it was smooth sailing. Alderman Junia Regrello, who was also convenor of the City Council’s Carnival Committee, observed the “vast improvement” in the participation of night-mas and steelpan in the celebrations in South.

Regrello expressed hope that this would continue next year. He also commented on the change in the route of parading Carnival bands and the steelbands which resulted in friction and heated exchange between San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly and some members of the pan fraternity. “It (the new route) deserved a try. It may not be practical completely but we have to remain positive as we try to improve the Carnival,” Regrello said. Regrello commented that results pertaining to Jouvert celebrations, Monday night mas, Parade of the Bands and other events would be made public by tomorrow. He noted that because of certain “inconsistencies” and for the purpose of clarification, the Carnival Committee abandoned attempts to get results out yesterday. ACP (South) Dennis Graham was also high in praise for the generally crime-free Carnival in San Fernando. “The  high and visible police presence in South served as a deterrent to the criminal elements and I commend the police for their hard work and application of strategies,” Graham said.

San Fernando son of the soil Brian London represented South Trinidad on a national level and did all the South proud in capturing the Young King Calypso title and placing second in the National Calypso Monarch, which was contested at Dimanche Gras on Sunday. Shurwayne Winchester’s smash hit “Look the Band Coming” and Destra’s “Bonnie and Clyde” were locked in a heated battle for title of Road March as was the case in Port-of-Spain. Both songs were played almost equally during celebrations in the southland. However, revellers seemed to be backing Winchester for the title while other songs contesting the third place in the Road March title race were Machel Montano’s “Craziness” and Maximus Dan’s “Soca Train.” With the end of the reign of the Merry Monarch for another year, the focus now is on the Carnival cool down at beaches throughout the country today. Revellers and masqueraders, their bodies tired from two days of frenzied jumping, waving and dancing, will most certainly welcome the chance to relax at the beach and leisurely recall the past days when Carnival truly ruled the land.