Central residents urged to play mas’ in the area

CARNIVAL in Central Trinidad will be ablaze with colour and pageantry this year at three main venues — Couva, Chaguanas and Carapichaima (on Monday alone), — all designed to keep residents in their respective districts. At Couva some $85,000 will be given out as prize money to winning bands and individuals who will take part in a one -week programme of activities; At Chaguanas, $51,000 have been allocated as prizes and at Carapichaima $80,000 will be distributed to winners for Carnival Monday Competition.

The spotlight in Couva, where competitions will be held at the Couva Car Park, will fall on the Miss Central Trinidad Carnival Queen Contest with eight contestants competing for the title on Friday, for cash prizes in the following order - 1st - $3,000; 2nd- $2,000; 3rd - $1,500; and 4th - $1,000. There will also be prizes for Best Gown; Best Costume, Miss Personality, Miss Amity, Miss Photogenic and the Queen that best portrays the Spirit of Carnival.

The eight queens are Vanessa Lochai, 16, (Miss Old Mac Agro); Hylee Quashie, 23 (Miss BC Credit Union); Annisha Persad, 18, (Miss New India Insurance); Ann Marie Lewis, 21 (Miss Quality Cash and Carry); Tishal Edwards, 24, (Miss KS Chinpire Contractors Ltd); Jamie Rattan, 22 (Miss Millenium Holdings Ltd); T’shana Lackhee, 19, (Miss Presidential Insurance); and Ria Mason, 20 (Miss Club Cassava).
On Saturday, both the Senior (14 in the finals) and Junior (7 in the finals) Calypso Monarch Competition will take place.

The Programme at Couva is-
February 2 — Massive Gosine Roving Tent;
February 3 — TUCO/South Central Calypso Tent;
February 4 — Miss Central Trinidad Carnival Queen Show.
February 5 — Calypso Monarch Senior and Junior Competition;
February 6 — Kiddies Carnival starting at 1 pm.
Monday February 7 - J’ouvert Competition at 5 am and Monday night mas’ to pick the King and Queen of Carnival;
February 8 — Parade of Bands from 11 am for the Band of the Year title and for which the prizes are — 1st - $7,000; 2nd - $4,000; 3rd- $3,000; 4th -$2,000; 5th $1,500; 6th $ 1,000.

At Chaguanas a queen show has also been planned to take place on February 2 at the District’s Community Centre, and with the prize structure being - 1st- $3,000; 2nd - $2,000 3rd - $1,500; 4th - $1,000. The eight contestants for the Miss Chaguanas Carnival Queen show are Aviann Alert, 20; Nikiesha Ramlal, 24; Amanda Joseph, 24; Alana Cariliff, 21; Tiniel Gomez, 18, Marlene Clartorio, 18, Parveen Rajkumar 19, and Neisha Chinabas, 26.

Chaguanas Programme of activities will be -
February 2 — Queen Show at the Chaguanas Community Centre;
February 3 — Junior Calypso Contest at 10.00 a.m. at Presentation College (10 finalists); and at 6.30 pm the Senior Calypso finals at the Chaguanas Community Centre with 11 calypsonians in the spotlight. The Massive Gosine Roving Chutney/Calypso Tent will be at the Market Square from 6.30 pm and on Tuesday, from 1 pm is the Parade of Bands for the Band of the Year title and for which the prize structure is 1st — $6,000; 2nd — $3,500; 3rd — $2,000; 4th — $1,500; and 5th — $1,000. At Carapichaima, there are elaborate preparations for the 58th Annual Monday Carnival and for which some $80,000 in prize money has been allocated, according to Jill Singh, the Assistant Secretary.

There will be much emphasis on traditional mas’ and mainly because of this a tremendous number of tourists flock the area to capture characters on film to take back to their respective countries. Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife, have been invited to witness the celebrations. The competition begins with kiddies first, followed by individuals, then small bands ending with large bands and steelbands. On the Friday night the Carapichaima Calypso Senior (12) and Junior (7) Monarch Competition will take place, at the Carnival Village, Waterloo Road, Carapichaima, starting at 7 pm. Singh said that prizes will be distributed to winning bands and individuals on the Sunday after Carnival at the Carnival village, starting at 9 am.