Vincy Mas bands are back in competition

The late announcement for the staging of Vincy Mas 2022 meant that no mas bands were judged in last year’s Mardi Gras. This year, however, competition is back on and bandleaders are working toward the coveted Band of the Year title.

Chairman of the Carnival Bands Association (CBA), Hugh Raguette said mas bands have experienced numerous challenges this year which have hindered the usual pomp surrounding the showcase for the Kings and Queen of the Bands. In addition to financial constraints, a lack of space was also highlighted by Raguette as a reason for the scaling back. He criticized some state entities for failing to “follow the policy of the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines” in support of the mas bands.

“Before the pandemic we had arrived at a stage where we had to hold a semifinal to choose 16 costumes for the final – eight kings and eight queens. Sadly this is not going to happen in 2023, we will not even be able to present the eight kings and queens in the final. If we present eight kings and eight queens come the Mardis Gras show, it is what we could do because we need adequate space.”

Thirteen masquerade bands are registered to parade through the City on July 11, with 12 of those taking part in competition. Of this number only seven are participating in the Section of the Bands judging component at the Steel and Glitter show on July 6.

“As you know, coming out of the pandemic last year, it was not possible for us to organize a competitive re-entry of the masquerade art form in Vincy Mas… The fact that there are only seven sections in the competition, and there are 12 bands is due to the fact that producing a section to compete is no easy matter. It takes tremendous outlay of financial resources. It is not always possible for a designer to want to put out his best for a product that is going to cost $35,000 to $40,000 for a return of $3,000 in prize monies,” Raguette pointed out.

The carnival bands head criticized the lack of support given by stakeholders in the festival to band leaders, and he made a “final appeal” to the CDC to restore the prize monies for the Band of the Year.

“Mardi Gras is the biggest event of the Vincy Mas product, and as such it should be reflected in the prize monies. The biggest celebration in the Carnival celebration is the band of the year, no Soca monarch could override the band of the year.”

Raguette stressed that a lack of support to traditional mas bands will eventually lead to a fall-off in the Vincy Mas product.

“We are going to feel the absence of the larger bands who come with high quality, competitive costumes. Mardi Gras is a real theatrical spectacle despite those who try to denigrate it. I am hoping that the traditional mas can return, and I hear noises in that direction.”