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T&T Carnival: losing something precious

ASH Wednesday, and the walking track around the ­Savannah is virtually empty: the gym bunnies have packed it in for another year, along with the remnants of their minimalist costumes. “Costumes” actually being a euphemism for stripper gear; for nothing left to the imagination.I have seen more wobbling, jiggling, quivering flesh in the last few days than I’d expect to see in a porn film, or a mass orgy; and ladies, truly, body-positivity activists be damned, I’m here to tell you that 95% of you are not doing yourselves any favours. Some (many) naked bottoms really should not be on the road. Just as a matter of aesthetics.
Viewing a band like Yuma or Bliss felt like an exercise in voyeurism: could that be why there seemed to be very few children out with their parents looking at the mas?

I remember, as a kid, jumping up amidst the masqueraders, deliriously happy to be surrounded by the colour and the glitter, and the extraordinary imagination and craftsmanship that had gone into each creation. Sure, there may have been vulgarity in behaviour—it was Carnival, after all, but ­never vulgarity in design.This was my first Carnival in 20 years, so random thoughts and ­analyses were inevitable. I was struck, for example, by what I’ll call Carnival apartheid.I noticed similarly excessive pricing for some of the Grand Stand shows—eg, Panorama finals: $400 to $800, more than I’d consider paying for almost any show in Canada. Exclusive seating categories: Reserve, Special Reserve; VIP, who knows what else? I’m sure if I’d explored a bit more I’d have found a category called Celestial, with prices only God could afford.

Sitting in the shade of a food shack, watching the bands exit the Savannah, I talked to a man about Carnival. “It’s not the same as it was,” he told me regretfully. “Nowadays, it’s all about the money.”
Call me Cassandra, prophet of doom, but I really think we are losing something precious.

Another Trini

Carnival a disappointment.

I am deeply saddened by the state of affairs that we have arrived at. It is no longer a protest manifestation but rather an engaging and inventive exchange of knowledge. At the moment, it is a multicolored display of nudity. On Monday and Tuesday, I had gathered in the North Stand with my children and the children of my neighbors to observe carnival bands.

The North Stand was now deserted, and the Grand Stand was nearly devoid of people as well. For there was an absence of visual stimulation, save for exhibitions of reckless nudity. And the entire day is filled with only one calypso – the exact same calypso – as if the NCC were to consider this the only calypso performed on stage and therefore counted as the road march.


Unfortunately, this one-song system, along with numerous others, has been in operation for more than a decade. Carnival Tuesday visits to the North Stand and Grand Stand are no longer worthwhile investments of time.

When will the NCC come to the realization that greater ingenuity is required and cease this pointless staging of a single calypso with several unidentified official listening points? This would enable the results to disclose which calypsos were, in fact, performed for the mas performers' amusement.

It is necessary to remove the road march mafia's influence over the content and frequency of the games. Regarding the issue of nudity, I propose that the NCC award prizes as incentives to bands whose attire consists of dresses, skirts, and trousers that do not reach the mid-thigh region. We must attempt!

Snoopy
I bumped this for you...

In reply to sgtdjones

Come on Bro, are you really trying to convince us you didn't want to get sandwiched by couple a dem Rolly Polly?

In reply to SnoopDog

I have been called a racist by posting facts about reparation why I believe, will not end well.

My thread, when I was told I didn't visit about Ghana and South Africa with pictures deleted. et al
I will ask Arawak why such was done....

Now you will put me in trouble by me quoting: