Jouvert King and Queen crowned on South Quay

For much of the morning, it was a constant flow of Jouvert, masquerade and steelbands moving along South Quay and making their way through the streets of Port-of-Spain.

Often, the human eye was mesmerised by the vast kaleidoscope of colour, shimmering off the costumes and bodies of the ecstatic masqueraders.

Singing Sandra, who placed second in the Dimanche Gras Calypso Monarch Competition, was also seen enjoying herself among the huge, partying crowd.

Franklin Rennie Jones and Helen Fullard were crowned the Jouvert King and Queen of 2006 respectively yesterday (Monday) at the Jouvert Downtown Port-of-Spain Carnival Competition 2006 held on lower Chacon Street and South Quay, Port-of-Spain.

Fullard won the Queen of Jouvert Title 2006 with her portrayal of "Panday Sends Robin Flying, Chief Whip Next" and Rennie Jones was crowned King of Jouvert 2006 with his cricket presentation called "King Lara Gone Up The Ladder, He Hit Number One And Bring Hayden Down To Number Two."

They were both crowned by Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown.

Second place in the Jouvert Queen Compe-tition went to Marie Eversley with "URP" and third place was taken by Patricia Goddard with "Ah Reach." Second position in the Jouvert King Competi-tion was won by Andre Pierre with "Vision 20/20" and third spot was taken by Phillip Montano for his portrayal of "Lights Gone Up."

A reasonably large crowd, both in the stands and on the pavement, came out to see the Jouvert King and Queen Competition 2006.

Many Jouvert bands, such as "Dance Yuh Dance," "D Warriors Coming," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and "Tribes of Africa," paraded along the South Quay route.

Some steelbands also made their way along South Quay, four of them being Courts Laventille Sounds Specialists, bp Renegades, San Juan Rhythm Section and West Stars Steel Orchestra.

There were scores of uniformed police officers in the crowd keeping the peace, including heavily armed personnel from the Riot Squad. The distinctive blimp was flying high in the skies, patrolling and keeping watch over the city’s exuberant Carnival celebrations.

Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul, who was making his way through the crowds, said that so far, the reports he had received on Car-nival security were very positive. When asked about the recent killing in Diego Martin, he was non-committal in his response.

"I have no update on the incident," he said, "and I have no comment on it until I have the full report on it."

Accompanying him were Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine and several other security service personnel. However, a fight broke out between two women, one of whom was a masquerader who was injured when she was hit with a bottle by her antagonist.

The fight was broken up by two men, one of whom seemed to be a masquerader.

There were no police officers present during the altercation between the two women.