Carnival blasts off at Solidarity Inc Car Park

Carnival 2012 was officially launched last Saturday at the Solidarity Inc. Car Park in Kingstown, showcasing the major components of what is now being referred to as ‘The Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean’.{{more}}

The evening’s proceedings got underway with the usual speeches, beginning with Dennis Ambrose, Chairman of the Carnival Development Committee (CDC) and included remarks from representatives of the Youlou Pan Movement, Warren Knights; the St Vincent and the Grenadines Calypso Association, Anne Miller and The Carnival Mas Bands Association, Elliott ‘Elie King’ Douglas.

Ten Mas Bands displayed their 2012 presentations followed by a presentation from the two premiere J’Ouvert bands; Green Hill and J’Ouvert Fanatics.

Then came the moment all had been waiting for, that was the sashing ceremony and first public appearance of the eight Miss SVG contestants.

Jolene Bentick – Miss Super 6; Shanique Browne – Miss Lotto; Terranza Franklyn – Miss Mustique Company Ltd.; Carice Glasgow – Miss LIME; Kendra Homer – Miss Agricultural Input Warehouse; Jovonne John – Miss St Vincent Brewery; Dieta Tucker – Miss Metrocint General Insurance Co Ltd and Aziza Williams – Miss Jergens.

Fitzroy ‘Brother Ebony’ Joseph, Aurella ‘Queen B’ Beache, Armstrong ‘Strong’ Williams and Vincent ‘Blakey’ Cuffy were the winners of the night in the Best New Song Calypso, Ragga Soca, Soca and Ex-Tempo competitions.

Officiating in his first Carnival as Minister of Culture, Cecil Mc Kie commended the CDC for the work done over the previous years.

He said that despite the constant criticism, the CDC continues to lead the way around the region in carnival development.

“You know very often we are very critical of our very own. You would know that our CDC here would have led the way in certain aspects in the development of carnival here in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Mc Kie said.

One area where the local CDC has been leading the way, Mc Kie explained was in the staging of an official launch to kick start the various activities.

“As a result, a lot of the other CDC’s are now looking to St Vincent and the Grenadines to see how they can pattern their own carnivals on what we do here.”

He singled out the development of pan, saying that within recent years there has been an improvement in the organization and operation of pan with more junior and senior pan sides taking part in competitions.

“We must compliment them and ask them to continue the hard work,” the Minister of Culture said.

He further commended the various Mas camps across the country and the Calypsom Ragga Soca and Soca artistes saying that these components have all made a name for themselves around the region and internationally.

But in mentioning the positives, Mc Kie said that there was still a lot more to do.

“While we can boast of an excellent product, an excellent organization of Vincy Mas here, I think we still have a lot more to do,” he opined.

And while Mc Kie said that patrons can expect a good showing from the various components this year, next year was going to be a special year.

One where everyone will have to work towards taking the festival to another level to accommodate the influx of new visitors coming to enjoy Vincy Mas when the international airport is completed in 2014.

“Funds are limited, but as we go on as the rest of the world, we expect that funds will become more and more available and allow us to expand and enhance our products and our services here in St Vincent and the Grenadines where Vincy Mas in concerned,” he said.