Clarke eyes Central mas titles

This year, with his presentation Somewhere in D Amazon, he has sent out a message to other mas men in Central Trinidad: “If you could beat me you will definitely clinch the Band of the Year title in Central mas.”

Clarke was formerly associated with the late Leroy Steele, of Masplayers’ Incorporated of California. He has been on his own for the last seven years and produced winners in 2002 with Biting Insects, Kaiso, Kaiso (2003), Vanishing Tribes (2004), Barbarians (2005), Dwellers of the Nile (2006) and last year’s presentation, Fantasy in Glass.

He is portraying the King of his Band this year, “Divine One - Lord of the Amazon,” and his Queen (Akilee Simmons) will be “Goddess of the Amazon.” Clarke’s band will hit the street with more than 200 masqueraders in seven sections D Birds of Paradise, D Tree People, D Moon Dancers, D Macaws, D Rain Dancers, D People of Gold, D Owl People.

Clarke is grateful to designer Stephen Derek of Port-of-Spain for helping him to create the band, which he thinks “will sweep the stage in 2008”. He has also been getting valuable assistance in making the costumes from Angela Beckles, Gerald Riley, Vernon Shipley, Patrick Parks, Alvin Pierre and Abigail John.