‘Water’ fete drowns Folk Fair

SATURDAY night’s segment of the 2004 Folk and Food Fair at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah had to compete with the popular August vacation teen party “Water Colours — Agua Trinidad” at the same venue. The dance presentations at the Fair were “drowned out” by the blaring reggae, hip-hop, dance hall and soca music selections from Waters Colours presented by WEFM 96.1. The Folk Fair, a feature of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition, was granted permission one year ago to use the Grand Stand area for its usual one-day event. Access to the facility was awarded by the National Carnival Commission (NCC), which also gave WEFM 96.1 clearance to use the Paddock Area on Saturday night.

However, a decision by the Best Village Committee to re-design the event by spreading the programme over the three-day weekend caused a clash. Norvan Fullerton, programme manager of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition explained to Newsday: “Both parties got clearance from the NCC to host events at the Savannah one year ago. But the Folk Fair, which is usually held on one day, is now a three-day programme. When we realised that there would be a clashing of events, we spoke to the other promoter. “They agreed to start playing music for their event from 9 pm. We felt that would have given us enough time to complete our programme.” Fullerton said more villages decided to participate this year but “they ran out of time” and Water Colours began. Fortunately, he said, the dance segment of the Folk Fair was about visuals, so the adjudicators were not affected “by the noises next door”.