Steady mas downtown

MAS in downtown Port-of-Spain started at about 1 pm, but when it did, the bands in all categories and sizes flowed steadily, with masqueraders in a stream of colour, waving and jumping in brilliant sunshine. Up to 4 pm, 16 bands had paraded across the South Quay stage before both downtown and NCC judges, with Shurwayne Winchester’s “Dead or Alive” blaring from most of the music trucks. The parade got underway with the traditional Bookman character, and when Newsday left the venue, big band Poison’s Cherchez La Femme, with 40 sections, was still crossing the stage, thrilling spectators at the Lord Kitchener stand.

The band was sectioned off and was the only big band with most of its masqueraders in costumes. Known for its partying nature and long stage presence, Poison’s lead section was heading up Frederick Street while the tail end was still on Richmond Street. The band was a rage of lovely beads, women and exposed skin. President George Maxwell Richards and his wife Dr Jean Richards enjoyed themselves, surrounded by many security personnel. Newcomers to the mas arena, Island Events with “Moulin Rouge a tribute to Josephine Baker,” was the first prominent band to cross the stage earlier in the day.

And as is traditional on Carnival Monday, most of its masqueraders were in fish net stockings, white T-shirts and black poom poom shorts. Genesis, The Beginning, led by Ian and Nina McKenzie in the medium category, was a sea of revellers with bits of costumes, while Big Mike and Friends with Legacy showed off the Queen of Carnival, “Fly High Pretty Butterfly” portrayed by Pamela Gordon. There are also several other individuals who are expected to come out today with 17 sections and 3,000 masqueraders. Besides the familiar names, Mac Farlane’s Carnival 2005 presentation The Washing was spectacular with blue devils who washed the stage with their blue bodies and a stream of confetti.

Spectators also got the usual authentic Indian mas, with colourful feathers, together with jab jabs demons and warriors. Not to be outdone were the steelbands with their bunch of fancy sailors, comprising mostly mature persons. The bands forming the Koskelle Committee included Woodbrook Playboyz, Exodus, Solo Pan Knights and Woodbrook Modernaires. And making a guest appearance was Rosalind Gabriel’s A Pinch of Minsh, together with its adult band A Song for Minsh.