TIME MACHINE: Trinidad Carnival 1995

Controversy is a tradition of Carnival in Trinidad, every year you can bet there is going to be a tune, a mas band, or a government policy, that will upset the masses and result in a rise in public opinion.

One of  the biggest controversies  of Carnival 1995 was  the Minshall vs Church  saga  when various Christian  denominations  including the Catholic Church opposed his use of the word Hallelujah  in his carnival presentation , little did we know  that some 16 years later  the Catholic Church itself will bring a mas band on the road.

Goes to show, Minshall was simply ahead of the game, and the society.

Ricardo Harewood was 'Spirit of Light' in 1995.

In 1995 Minshall’s Hallelujah won the N.C.C’s Band of the Year title. Minshall was followed by the Legend Wayne Berkley’s band Origami in 2^nd place with Richard Afong’s Barbarossa presentation ‘East of Sumatra’ coming in third.

The medium band of the year was won by Stephen Derek and D Midas Associates with Ebony and Ivory.  Jason Griffith’s ‘Shipwreck’ gained second place and ‘Total Delights’ by showcase coming in third.

The small band category was lead by Henry Ramdin and Anthony Jackman’s ‘Dakota Dog Dancers’.Neville Aming’s ‘Festival in Ethiopia’ was second , with yet another legendary name in carnival Glendon Morris’s band was third with ‘Original Stylish Sailors’

Roland St George1995 'Fury of Djarkata'

The 1995 King of Carnival title was won by Hilton Cox who portrayed ‘Mystic Dawn’ from the Stephen Lee Hung ‘Oceania’. It was the fourth title of his career.

Second place was won by Roland St George  in his portrayal ‘Fury of Djarkata.

Third place was won by the late great Tedder Eustace , who portrayed  ‘Star of wonder, Star of Light’.

The Queen of Carnival title was won by Alyson Brown who portrayed ‘Joy to the World’ from Minshall’s band Hallelujah. Anra Bobb was second with ‘Peace and Love’ she was followed up by Ira Patterson in ‘Goddess of Wisdom and Light’.

Shane Correia: King 'Carnivore'.

The Dimamanche Gras Calypso Monarch final was won by Leroy Calliste (Black Stalin). The 1995’title the fourth in his career was won with two tunes, “Tribute to Sundar Popo’ and ‘In Time’. Second place was won by Cro Cro with the Mighty Sparrow coming in third.

The Road March title OF 1995 was won by Super Blue with the soca tune ‘Signal to Lara’.

The Rest is Carnival History.

Mas Assassin out!

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Revellers to decide whether or not to compete next year

TOP: Award winning bandleader Brian Mac Farlane, right, chats with designer Fareed Carvalho.

CENTRE: King of Carnival Curtis Eustace receives his award from Hermia Tyson-Cuffie, deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.

ABOVE: Garth Peters, chairman, Tobago Festivals Committee, left, presents the husband and wife team of Ronnie and Carol Mc Intosh, from the band Ronnie and Caro, with the Harold Saldehna Medium Band of the Year award.

Revellers with Brian Mac Farlane and Associates will decide whether the band returns to competition during next year’s National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) Parade of the Bands, to defend the George Bailey Band of the Year (large) title. Celebrated bandleader Brian Mac Farlane revealed this during a Guardian interview on April 14, at the NCBA prize-distribution ceremony, held at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain. “I will bring the band. It will be fabulous. But I won’t be competing if things remain the same,” said Mac Farlane. “My committee disagrees with me. They now want the masqueraders to go online and vote on whether the band should take part in the competition.”

He expressed frustration about having to wait five hours to cross the “stage” at the Savannah at this year’s edition of the Parade of The Bands to present their portrayal, Resurrection—The Mas. Mac Farlane said he lodged a complaint with Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald, who promised to meet with him on the issue in hopes of devising a plan to reduce the perennial congestion experienced at major judging points during the national street festival. However, that was before Prime Minister Patrick Manning called a snap general election, scheduled for May 24. Mac Farlane said: “We even suggested that bands draw straws and appear before the judges at different venues on different days. That would certainly address the bottle-neck issues at the Savannah.” More than 300 awards were presented at the NCBA function to bands and individuals. Angela Jack, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, represented Line Minister Mc Donald.

Her deputy Hermia Tyson-Cuffie was also in attendance, along with members of the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives from Pan Trinbago and the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (Tuco). Speaking on behalf of the Culture Minister, Tyson-Cuffie said while Carnival brought out the creative genius of T&T’s artisans, “our attempt to dazzle the world with the colour and artistry of our national festival can easily be (spoiled) by inappropriate behaviour. And acts of indiscretion could tarnish the very positive image of our Carnival in the eyes of the world.” That aside, she said, the protective services and responsible bandleaders ensured that T&T’s Carnival continues to be clean, enjoyable and without any major crime.

SEAN NERO

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