New, exciting things in store for Carnival 2014

If the plans laid by the rural carnival committees are any indication of what is to be expected in the national festival, then carnival enthusiasts can expect a number of new and exciting initiatives this year.{{more}}

Representatives from a number of rural carnival committees told the media on Tuesday that patrons can expect new and exciting additions to what had been offered in the past when the LIME sponsored 4G carnival events take place this year.

Apart from the regular queen shows and various parties, revellers can now look out for, and forward to, mas, fashion and a soca monarch competition.

Public Relations Officer of the North Leeward organization Kenville Horne indicated that apart from the highly anticipated wet fete, j’ouvert and street jump up, patrons can expect the return of a soca monarch competition.

Horne pointed out that the carnival activities in the area have been expanding over the years and that the return of the competition will bring some added value to the area, that was hit by tragedy during the December floods.

“We had that in the past but we are trying to bring that back and calypso because we want to promote the artistes and talent.

“As you know, North Leeward went through a catastrophe with the Christmas disaster and persons are distressed… and I know that at carnival time that is the opportunity they will get to really express themselves and feel real happy…” Horne said.

Also bringing something new to the table this year is the St Georges committee, whose representative Foster Hannibal indicated that this year, the organization is hoping to introduce mas into the area’s festivities.

Shaffiquer Nanton representing the Owia Sports and Cultural Organization (OSCO) pointed out that the group, which had organized carnival events in the past, was about to take the festivities one step further.

“We are always trying to be as unique as possible and I guess that’s what attracts a lot of people. You have to be unique and this year we are trying to do a little twist and we are bringing fashion and mas.

“We know our young ladies and the men, they are into mas and some are into fashion. So why not put both together so on the 30th of May we have decided to do a fashion show, which is titled ‘the runway meets the real feters,’ this is a combination between fashion and mas.

“We will have costumes made by myself and Fayann Pollard, these costumes are made locally and this is another way that we could help our community and make others realise that we are talented people and we can do our own stuff,” Nanton said.

Rural Carnival Coordinator Esworth Roberts, sitting in for Carnival Development Committee CEO Ashford Wood, commended the rural organizations for their plan to bring new initiatives to their calendar of events.

He pointed out that the number of rural carnivals have been reduced from 12 to eight, indicating that the strain that had been placed on the security forces, as well as the clash in calendars had contributed to the reduction.

Sponsorship, he said was also another reason for the reduction, but with super platinum sponsors LIME on board, the rural carnivals have received tremendous assistance.

“We are quite happy that LIME has been coming on board with sponsorship to the rural carnival and assisting the rural carnival,” Roberts noted.

“Money is always hard to come by in these tough economic times and the contribution made by LIME is certainly welcomed; it has been welcomed over the years.

“This year lime has decided to continue the sponsorship arrangement and again we are quite happy.

“So, I am here to say that on behalf of the CDC and on behalf of all the rural committees who will be receiving sponsorship that we are quite happy for the contributions.

“I would like to implore the rural carnival committees to give due mileage to the lime brand, as the monies coming for the sponsorship comes from their advertising budget, so we need to give adequate mileage for monies spent; so I would like to encourage the committees to promote and advertise the lime brand during their carnival,” Roberts added.

LIME general manager Leslie Jack also commended the rural committees for their promotion of Vincy Mas.

He said that the rural events play a vital role in bringing awareness of the national festival, and as such, his company was pleased to support five of the eight committees.

“Over the years we’ve done our own assessment and realized that rural carnivals play a significant role in how well the awareness is spread throughout St Vincent and Grenadines, as well as regionally and internationally.

“As far as selling carnival is concerned, there are a number of people within the diaspora that have relatives who are living within the rural areas, and they would hear about the excitement and the number of things that are happening within the ‘Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean’ from our relatives who live within the rural locations.

“We do look forward to working with these rural carnivals and these are carnivals that we have supported in the past and will continue to support them,” Jack said.

The rural carnivals supported by LIME are North Leeward, South Leeward, St Georges, Central Windward and North Windward (OSCO).

The other rural carnivals are P’tani, Central Leeward and Bequia.