Revel in D’Real Carnival

President of the NCBA, David Lopez, told the gathering, “This was a vision of the NCBA executive, knowing that we cannot continue to do things the same way and get different results. And together with my executive we have undertaken the process of streamlining the judging process and the registration process.”

There will be no more going to the office to register bands for Carnival. He said that archaic process is gone.

“Since there are carnivals all over the world, we have to brand TT Carnival. So we came up with the theme: Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, D’Real Carnival, and we decided to move forward,” he said.

He noted the NCBA has the responsibility to ensure Carnival is run properly every year, adding that they also have to focus on Carnival the industry.

“Carnival is a multi-billion dollar business and while there are different facets of Carnival, and it will take us a very long while to put it together, we must start. And the NCBA has started that a couple of years now, quietly working in the background to ensure that we are working to build Carnival the industry.”

Lopez thanked Republic Bank for buying into the vision of the Mas Academy (MA) in 2009, as well as then Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald, however, with the academy situated on Cornelio Street, Woodbrook, it was not reaching the people. “So we revamped the MA and now have the MA outreach programme to cover all of Trinidad and Tobago, where we can pass on skills to the next generation,” said Lopez.

A video of the outreach programme was then aired, following which Anika Aleong of Vagusmri Ltd launched the 2015 Revel Campaign, and the jingle for the new branding played.

Shinelle Gittens of Rolley Holdings Ltd then explained the new band registration process that can be done online.

There was also the unveiling of the wall of the NCBA head office. It is now adorned with paintings of traditional mas characters and their descriptions.

Following the unveiling, guests were entertained by a number of young artistes.