Shooting brings to North Windward J’ouvert, Jump Up

The North Windward carnival activities were in full swing, and it was expected to be one of the brightest in years.

With easier access across the Dry River, a newly laid Windward Highway and the success of the Soca Train weeks earlier, things seemed on course for a memorable festival.

But five gunshots put an end to that, and the Georgetown carnival would be remembered for something else.{{more}}

The shooting death of Odinga Collins brought an abrupt halt to the planned J’ouvert and Street Jump Up that were scheduled to take place on Saturday morning and afternoon.

Following the Miss North Windward Pageant, which was won by Miss Mount Bentick Kacyan Lorraine, police in the area and the organizers of the rural carnival agreed that it would be inappropriate to continue the activities that were planned.

Police feared that there might have been reprisals for the killing of Collins, and they also intended to continue their investigations into the matter, and they believed that any other activity would have hampered them.

The organizers as well as the Governing body (CDC) believed that continuing festivities following the tragedy would not have lifted the dampened spirits of the then skeptical revelers.

The organizers are considering holding the Street Jump Up at a later date.

While CDC chairman Denis Ambrose extended condolences to the family of Collins for their loss, he reiterated that the young man’s death was in no way related to the festivities that was taking place at the time; a statement to which the police concurs. (JJ)