THOUSANDS INVADE SCARBOROUGH FOR JOUVERT

Perhaps like a people “waiting to exhale,” thousands of Tobagonians flooded the streets of Scarborough yesterday morning in gay abandon and revelry for the traditional Jouvert celebrations which signalled the start of the two-day Carnival festivities on the island. The huge crowd had been building up through Sunday night with several DJs and music trucks in attendance at various points in the capital in a massive street party, and it just exploded as dawn approached.

The usual painted faces and bodies, several ole mas’ bands and individuals, were greatly outnumbered by the thousands of persons who just came out to have good, clean fun, partying in the morning sun as several music trucks traversed the capital. Putting in an appearance was the traditional Tamboo Bamboo band from Charlotteville on Tobago’s far North-east end, attracting its own unique following. Katzenjammers Steelband from Black Rock, Carib Dixeland from Mt Pleasant, and Tobago Pan-Thers, the single-pan outfit out of Golden Lane, were also in town. There were several reported fights, however. Three men were held by police — two on outstanding warrants and the other for possession of a weapon.

A man was reportedly slashed on his wrist during an altercation at a gas station on Lower Milford Road. The victim, who was bleeding profusely, was rushed by Fire Services ambulance to the Scarborough Hospital. This was one of several instances in which persons who were injured in fights, were taken to hospital by emergency ambulances. Police officers in uniform were quite visible throughout the mammoth crowd, while a mobile police station was set up at the Scarborough Market Square. They reported a few minor incidents, in which persons injured in fights were dispatched to the hospital. There were no reported serious injuries. Yesterday afternoon the young masqueraders were in the spotlight as the Junior Parade of the Bands took centre stage in Scarborough.