Reality during Carnival

Larry Jones, 26, was stabbed in the chest, while 28-year-old Khada Predie was shot in the back of the head. Had the mayor’s office and the police not decided to stop the Carnival then and there, there is no telling what could have happened during the course of the day.

Such incidents, happening at the very start of the Carnival, could have spread like a virus, leading to more violence. Indeed, the relatives of one of the murder victims made it clear to the media that they wanted revenge, and implied that they would be seeking it personally.

Had the Carnival continued in Chaguanas, with word of the murders already making the rounds, it is possible, even probable, that those with scores to settle would have come out to take advantage of the crowd cover for their murderous business.

Indeed, the Predie killing appears to have been nothing more nor less than an execution. Additionally, there were also other violent incidents, with one gang of young men being caught on camera beating up another man.

We would suggest that the police get hold of that footage and seek out and arrest all the attackers, if they have not already done so. This would send a strong message about police detection skills and resolve. But such violent acts may well have continued had the Carnival been allowed to go on.

There was, however, also a moral reason to stop the festivities. Revellers were reportedly angry about the decision, but that reaction only reveals the level of callousness that infects even ordinary citizens of the country. This is what some of the Chaguanas revellers wanted on Monday.

In such a situation, however, it is up to the persons in charge to do the right thing. It cannot be that the fete must go on no matter what. As a stress reliever, Carnival can only be good for the society if it provides renewed energy to deal with our year-round social problems — of which murder is by far the most pressing. To continue playing mas after two killings would have displayed a completely skewed perspective.

Indeed, the question arises, had such incidents occurred in Port-of-Spain, if the city’s authorities would also have stopped the Jouvert there.

We doubt it. Indeed, Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul on Monday declared himself satisfied with the situation. It is true that the capital city did not have the type of violence which large and festive crowds might naturally bring. But it is also true that the violence overall did not drop, but only shifted to Chaguanas, Arima and Marabella.

If crime in the capital city did not rise, it was only because the criminals knew that the police would be out in disproportional force there, as would be private security in Carnival bands and closed offices.

But now the fete is over, and it is back to reality.

However, as the murders and violence over the Carnival reveal, reality is always there no matter what we do to mask it.