TUCO head calls for statue of Yuille-Williams

*Part of the prize package for Large Band of the Year 2004 is 50 bags of cement;
*Media rights will be up for tender for Carnival 2005;
*Electronic judging to be introduced in Carnival next year;
*A statue of Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille-Williams ought to be erected;
*Carnival interest groups need to present their 2005 budgets to Government before April 30, 2004.

These were the pronouncements to which the audience reacted most at the National Carnival Commission’s (NCC) awards presentation function titled “Night of the Champions 2004,” staged at the Hilton Trinidad, Lady Young Road, Port-of-Spain, on Sunday evening. The first elicited gales of laughter, the second and third earned loud applause, there was a buzz of low murmured comments to the fourth, and the fifth was greeted with stunned silence. Trini Revellers, led by David Cameron, collected the Large Band of the Year trophy and prize for its presentation of “Arabian Nights.” NCC chairman Kenneth De Silva announced the proposed tendering process for media rights and Yuille-Williams made the announcement about electronic judging in Carnival 2005.

President of Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) Michael Legerton, in an address, made the call for a statue of Yuille-Williams to be erected. The information on budget submissions by the Carnival interest groups came from the Culture Minister. The programme opened half-an-hour after the advertised starting time of 6 pm with the rendition of the National Anthem by pannist Duvonne Stewart. After an invocation by Brother Noble Khan, NCC chairman Kenneth De Silva delivered opening remarks in which he mentioned “the low level of support from the corporate community” the NCC receives for the Carnival.

Prizes won in all categories of mas, pan and calypso were distributed during the two-hour long programme hosted by radio personality Sharon Pitt. Calypsonian Brother Superior (Andrew Marcano) introduced each of the disciplines with an appropriate calypso. “You Haven’t Seen Carnival” for the mas; “Calypso Will Carry On” for the calypso; and “I Want To Be A Panman” for the pan. Vocalist Mavis John, accompanied by Pelham Goddard on keyboards, closed the playbill with a stirring rendition of the late Kitchener’s “The Carnival Is Over.” During cocktails that followed, music was supplied by Pantasy Steel Ensemble led by Duvonne Stewart.