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| ENJOYING THE REVELRY: A character from Tribe's 2010 presentation The Secret of Silk. |
Stakeholders in the Carnival industry have for a long time been calling on Government to provide a better support system for them in the production of the festival once hailed as the greatest show on earth.
The Express is asking these stakeholders and special interest groups what they believe is needed to make C2K11 the best ever. We first chatted with mas bandleaders asking whether they wanted to return to the Big Stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah and whether if there is anything the Culture Ministry and other arms of Government can do to make mas making easier.
Brian Mac Farlane, who won the Band of the Year for the fourth time this year, said he hopes mas will return to the Savannah next year because he believes that is where it belongs. He said he wants to meet with Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston ’Gypsy’ Peters at the right time to offer other suggestions on how mas and Carnival on the whole can be improved.
’Pan and calypso have already returned to the Savannah so why not mas? We also need to find an effective way to encourage masmen to return to the glory days of mas and come back to elements of good design. The Government needs to put the right incentives in place so designers will be creative again. Bring people back to the drawing boards,’ Mac Farlane said.
Mac Farlane also said there are too many unnecessary vehicles on the parade route that should not be there. He said the controversial wee wee trucks should be done away with and more toilet facilities placed along the route. He said he also does not see the need for party trucks and ice cream trucks moving within the bands.
Akin also suggested that another big stage be placed further west along the route so that while some bands head for the Savannah others will choose to cross the more westerly stage first, freeing up the route. Akin said something must be done to stop the clash of vendors, masqueraders and spectators.
Akin said Tribe will have its mobile restrooms, which is the more pristine name for wee wee trucks. He added that as far as he is aware at least ten of the all-inclusive bands have these facilities because their masquraders prefer this instead of having to use toilets on the pavement or in parking lots. Akin said he knows all bands will provide wee wee trucks next year.
Dane Lewis of Island People Mas believes mas must return to the Savannah as a starting point for creating the best Carnival experience as far as mas is concerned. Lewis added that the route for the Parade of the Bands is dysfunctional and needs to be expanded and also made to cater for masqueraders, spectators and vendors alike.
’Put mas back on the stage. The parade route needs to be made functional for the masquerader, spectator and vendor alike because right now it is absolutely dysfunctional. The way things are, vendors are on the pavement where spectators should be, so the spectators end up on the road where the masqueraders are creating congestion and danger,’ Lewis said.
Lewis said he wants to see designated places for vendors where they can comfortably ply their trade without losing out on sales, while not hampering the flow of pedestrians and masqueraders. He also believes that the mas has outgrown the current route, which needs to be expanded to accommodate the increase of masqueraders, music trucks and utility vehicles.
’The route has not been examined for free flow for some time. Judging points need to be appropriately placed so more bands can compete within the given time frame. We can’t have bands taking hours to make three judging points before stopping for lunch and having the masqueraders on the road for 10 hours before eating. We also have to stay within the Ministry of Health’s stipulations for serving food so something needs to be done about the route and judging points,’ Lewis said.
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| PARTYING HARD: They enjoyed themselves in Tribe's 2010 presentation The Secret of Silk. |
Vice President of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA), David Lopez believes the best year for mas ever is close at hand, but says there are challenges that must be overcome before such becomes a reality. He too said the main issues that need addressing are congestion, vending and getting the Savannah properly prepared for the Parade of the Bands.
’We welcome the Minister’s thoughts and plans, but there are challenges we will face. The NCBA and Minister, need to work hand in hand with the Mayor, NCC and police to deal with the congestion. The vendors need to make their money and they provide a needed service, but they need to be regulated. The City Council can’t just sell them spots on the pavement along the route causing problems when the bands pass,’ Lopez said.
Lopez said the NCBA is giving Peters time to settle in and they will approach him for a meeting where they will share ideas with him. Lopez agrees the Savannah is the best place for the parade, but not the makeshift venue there now. He wants Peters to state his position on the Carnival Arts Centre and whether or not it will be built and if so, when.
’We agree on returning to the Savannah, but not as it is now. What is the Minister’s position on the Carnival Arts Centre? Will it be built and if so when? In one year or two? It is already two years overdue. Anyway, the NCBA is very optimistic because Peters comes from the belly of the culture and we will work with him to achieve the goals we all have,’ Lopez said.
Secretary of the National Carnival Development Foundation (NCDF), Peter Reynald also cited congestion and vending as major issues to be dealt with. He said he is hoping that Carnival will be returned to the people as he believes the previous administration clamed the festival as its own to do with as it pleased. Reynald said mas must be immediately returned to the Savannah.
’First thing, put mas back in the Savannah. Administration of mas should be returned to the NCC and management of the Parade of the Bands be improved. We also want the payment of outstanding royalties (percentage of money earned from television, photos, DVD’s), another judging venue being created down in the west, expansion of the route, all stakeholders must be involved in the decision making process for Carnival, improvement of the facilities along the route. Vending is an integral part of Carnival so hygienic structures should be provided for vendors along the route,’ Reynald said.
Wayne Bowman wayne.bowman@trinidadexpress.com
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6 comments:
Are we serious about her culture? MY esteemed colleague, Mas Man, your blogs are highly detailed and informative as always.As Trinidadians,I believe we take too much for granted. We have steelband, we have soca,rapso,chutney, parang and the list goes on.As a people we are constantly changing, our environment,and of course Carnival which is synonymous with Trinidad and Tobago has changed.After reading this post I came away with the same old feelings I have had for years.Why every year it seems as though Carnival is something new to Trinidad and Tobago."What the Masmen want for Carnival 2011."
Same old cry. The band taking too long to get to the judging venues.I spoke to a friend in JFK airport on one Carnival Monday at 8 am.He got to Trinidad and had to wait for three hours to see our band cross the stage.The big joke was ,that we were on Charlotte Street for 6 hours.That is beyond ridiculous and its still going on.Brian McFarlane complained about that this year.The Ministry in charge of Culture,Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism-thats new,and other departments of government, all know that Carnival belongs in Queens Park Savannah.These aformentioned groups need to make better and more permanent arrangements for Carnival. This is our festival, it has been copied by at least 150 different countries in the world.What a beautiful thing.You can switch on the tv and see certain islands in Caribbean advertising their beautiful beaches all year. We do not see Carnival being advertised as it should be. It is so big that I guess it sells itself. Our government focusses on oil and natural gas and pitch and Carnival which has always been a major contributor to our revenues via our tourism,continues to take a back seat.This is and continues to be a sad state of affairs.Carnival should have been more solidified in terms of venue and as part of our economy via tourism .We should have been teaching our younger ones, long ago, the art of mas making and
design.Where are the institutions for this?Is there a school where one can go to learn to beat pan? Or do you go to the panyard,if you know someone who can teach you.We need to stop this dysfunctionalism regarding our culture.Give Carnival the accolades and great incentives it deserves.
Beautifully said Georgia and I agree with you 100% Carnival has been not only copied but bettered in some cases although many would not dream to mention that.
And your right the crys are the same old ones, but would carnival be carnival without these so called problems?
In London the council calls the shots as to when carnival starts and when it ends the route has been made smaller and still there are gaps in the procession, the truth is if bands all lined up and crossed the route at once the whole thing will end in about 3 or 4 hours, is that carnival?
As for the international marketing of carnival I prefer not to.
I often argue that commercialism and culture leads to the death of culture look at the fun bands and what they have done for carnival and her children....nothing, but fill their own pockets and cut out the participation of the small man the lower classes from which carnival was born.
As for the schools I would love to know what they will teach the youth wire bending and vacuum forming methods Carnival culture can be found in the literature of Lovelace and Anthony are these things going to be taught to the youth too?
I wonder?
Mas Man I agree with you totally on this.
With regards to our Brooklyn Carnival, "they" call it Labor Day Parade, and it has gone from 9am -6pm to 12pm -6pm.The Irish Day Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and the Gays and Lesbians all have 8 hours. Every year they have systematically cut something from our celebrations. To me it does not seem like Carnival anymore.This has resulted in many nationals distancing ourselves from the actual participation, present company included.The Borough President and the Mayor can attest to the fact that the West Indian Labor Day celebrations bring in huge revenues to the city of New York. They depend on it.The Jouvert has definitely gotten better.More bands are entering the competition over the years. And people believe this to be better and longer, since they go from a fete to Jouvert.So there is a greater swing from the pretty mas to 'OLE MAS'.The Kiddies Carnival on the Saturday has been a great opportunity for the kids to get involved.They too have suffered from delays and the design flaw as well as the adult parade.The BBF rules.
Organization is key and this is a constant thorn in the sides of all involved.Lateness takes away from the time allotted.There are a few bands that are organized and actually make it to the Parkway on time.Some revellers are still running every year to meet the band. As you said "Carnival wouldnt be Carnival without these problems."
As for Commercialism, It is sad to hear Caribbeans involved in mas making saying "just give them a costume, all they want to do is jump up." They are charging exorbitant prices for these costumes and they are getting paid. What do you the masquerader end up with? You already know.The Chinese too have now jumped on the bandwagon and are in the costume making business.
I was speaking with one of the representatives on the Committee and was told "we trying to promote our culture, and we want the people to be happy and enjoy themselves,and yes we have problems every year." As a Trini to de bone, its really hard for me to swallow.So just make sure yuh get a costume and go jump on de Parkway, its all about havin a good time.
Hi Georgia, I need to make a correction to your comment. As of April 1, 2010, the parade time span has changed to 5 hours for ALL parades in NYC. So our parade will now be from 10am (official start time) to 3pm, which amount to 5 hours. The West-Indian Labor Day parade was not singled out -- at least not this time.
This year St.Patty's day and Puerto Rican Day parade routes were cut short to accomodate the shortened time frame, and to cut down on the need for police man-power. The same will happen for Eastern Parkway. Sad.
As for Trinidad's mas congestion, we have just NOW begun to really examine the situation after all these years. We are now seeing that it's a myriad of things contributing to the problem, and not just one band or one thing. This will not be solved in time for 2011. But the dialog is necessary. And a follow-up of collective ACTION must happen.
Hi Carnivalcocoa,
Thanks a million for the updates.Only found out last night from someone connected to WIADCA. Wondered why i was abe to drive through the city so easily on St Patrick's Day.Though we werent singled out this time, we still manage to lose a little something every year.
You're welcome Georgia.
And yes it's so true, we do indeed lose something every year, getting watered down to next to nothing.
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