London kicks off Notting hill mas

As a result, Morean-Phillip announced “Aspiring and achieving unity” as the apt theme for the London carnival.

“It is saying in different words what we in TT have as our national motto ‘Together we aspire together we achieve.’ This is what the carnival effort signifies,” she said.

Morean-Phillip spoke of how the culture of a nation can transcend language barriers and serve as a unifying force, relating it to TT’s experience in Germany at the World Cup.

She said the Soca Warriors and their supporters generated a special atmosphere of warmth and feels the Notting Hill carnival will have a similar effect on all those who participate in the festival this year.

Notting Hill carnival will be held during the Bank Holiday weekend August 27 and 28 from 12 noon to 7 pm, in Notting Hill, South East London.

It is organised by the Westminster City Council and carnival organisers LNHC Ltd, whose directors are Debi Gardner, Ashton Moore, Lewis Benn, Chris Boothman, Roddy Maharaj and chairperson Prof Chris Mulliard.

The Notting Hill carnival, led by members of the Caribbean population, many of whom have lived in the area since the 1950s became an annual event in January 1959. The prime mover was Rhaune Laslett. At that time, only around a thousand people turned out. By 1976 the event had grown, with around 150,000 people attending.

However, in that year and in subsequent years the carnival was marred by riots, in which predominantly Caribbean youths fought with police. During this period, there was considerable coverage of the disorder in the press, which some felt took an unfairly negative and one-sided view of the carnival.

For a while it looked as if the carnival would be banned. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, was one of the few establishment figures who supported the event.

In recent years, the event has been much freer from serious trouble and is generally viewed very positively as a dynamic celebration of London’s multi-cultural diversity, though dominated by the Caribbean culture in the best traditions of Rio de Janeiro.

However, there has been controversy over the public safety aspects of holding such a well-attended event in narrow streets in a small area of London.

The capital’s authorities have sought to spread the load by making use of Hyde Park. In 2003, the carnival was run by a limited company, the Notting Hill Carnival Trust Ltd.

A report by the London Development Agency on the 2002 carnival estimated that the event contributes around ?93 million to the London and UK economy. Now the carnival attracts up to 1.5 million people, making it the largest street festival in Europe.