‘Alleyne, Deyalsingh’ are PoS J’Ouvert King and Queen

The start of the Carnival revelry began promptly at 4 am at South Quay, Port-of-Spain.

No one was spared public ridicule as veteran masquerader Rondell Pierre delivered a comical impression of popular talk show host Ian Alleyne, earning him the title of J’Ouvert King.

His presentation of ‘Ian Alleyne Happy Inspector Alexander charged with Assault and Battery’ featured a mannequin dressed as the embattled police inspector, being delivered a jolt with a bag of salt and a car battery.

J’Ouvert Queen Lillian Pierre secured her title after a spirited portrayal of “Dr Deyalsingh removes some of Kamla’s faults”.

Pierre, dressed as Health Minister Dr Terrance Deyalsingh, performed surgery on an effigy which supposedly represented the former Prime Minister, removing ‘items’ such as alcohol and a “plant-like substance”.

The traditional J’Ouvert picong did not end there as Lennox Fox delivered a clever performance as United States President Donald Trump in the portrayal “From Russia with Love.” His offering featured Fox as Trump calling Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on a golden telephone.

Other portrayals for the moning included Herbert Pierre’s “Kamla Selfish” with the former PM depicted as a fish vendor and Barbara Pilgrim’s ‘Presidential Wine’.

Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez said that he was generally pleased with this year’s turnout, adding that he was impressed with the creativity, of the masqueraders.

“Although this is my first Carnival as Mayor, I must say that I am pleased with the overall turnout of persons for this year’s J’Ouvert celebrations.

Also, what impressed me the most was the number of young persons I saw at this year’s King and Queen competition.

I’m definitely comfortable knowing that the future of the competition is in good hands.” Asked if he thought that the prize money of $1,500 each to the winning masqueraders was enough, Martinez said that the prize money was suitable for the performances and has actually gone on to enhance the creativity and quality of the portrayals from masqueraders.

“I think that the prize money is appropriate for the competition. At the end of the day, people play mas not for money but for the passion of Carnival.

The performance is in itself reward enough.”