Downtown Kiddies parade — late as usual

DOWNTOWN Junior Parade of Bands gave a new meaning to the saying that “anytime is Trinidad time,” when they began their competitions over one hour later than the advertised 1 pm start. Parents were heard complaining that the children were becoming restless from waiting for the competitions to begin, stating that “something must be done to deal with the situation.” But the judges were not the only ones with a late start, at 1 pm the Lord Kitchener stand, erected on South Quay for paying patrons was literally empty with just a handful of patrons waiting to take in the action. By the 2 pm start of the competition, the stands were only quarter filled as patrons started to trickle in one by one.

Special accommodation was made by the hosts of the competition for the children of the Lady Hochoy Home and at the start of the action, the children showed their appreciation jumping and waving. At around 1.45 pm the judges informed revellers that they were ready to judge the individual segments, and by 2 pm the first band, the Success Laventille Composite’s “Mannie Remember — the West Indian Readers.” Costumes ranged from the Trojan Horse, Brer Anansi, how Agouti lost his tail and other favourites from children’s stories. Other bands hitting the stage included the San Juan Hill with “TT Festivals,” Maraval with “Cherokee Uprising,” D Midas Associates “Days of Glory,” Se?or Gomez and Associates “Vikings Coming,” SLAC’s and Associates “Somewhere in Africa,” One Love and Associates “Fancy Sailors in Colours,” and Chick A D Production with “A Plitter A Platter.”

At 3 pm Rosalind Gabriel’s “A Pinch of Minsh,” was just about to make its way onto the stage with over ten sections, with the 2005 Junior Carnival Queen Anna-Marie Lee leading the way with her winning costume “Spark of Creativity.” Lee’s mother Gillian told Newsday that this is the last year for her daughter, who would be retiring from competition. The four time winner, having won in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005, said that she believed it was time to concentrate on other things, especially her studies and examinations. Asked whether Lee would be playing mas again anytime in the future, Gillian said that “We just have to wait and see what she decides later on.” The Lee family took the opportunity to thank all the people who had been a part of their daughter’s involvement in Carnival and her continued development over the years, especially the band’s leader Rosalind Gabriel.