CDC presents prizes to Vincy Mas winners

After 10 years drought, Digicel Nelson Bloc mas band walked away with 10 trophies last Thursday at the Murray Heights Hotel at the Vincy Mas 2015 prize-giving ceremony, hosted by the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC).

Their most recent haul makes them the band with most wins over the 52-year duration of the competition. Nelson Bloc won ‘Band of the Year’ and ‘Best use of colour’ at Mardi Gras, while placing second in the Junior Band of the Year competition,{{more}} Queen of the Bands and Mardi Gras Uptown Competition and third in Best Junior Section, Junior Queen of Carnival and Junior Uptown Competition.

Runner-up in the Band of the Year competition Guinness Y De Lima Hitz FM 103.7 Blondie Bird walked away with 17 trophies including: 1st and 2nd positions in Junior Mas – Individuals (5-9 years), Junior Mas – Individuals (10-15 years) and Best Junior Section. Additionally they won Junior Queen of Carnival, Junior King of Carnival, Junior Band of the Year, Queen of the Bands and Mardi Gras Uptown Competition, also placing in the Junior Uptown Competition, Individuals of the Year, Sections from the Bands, King of the Bands and Mardi Gras Best Use of Colour.

Miss SVG 2015 De Yonte Mayers, who also after seven years brought the Miss Carival crown back to SVG, was present to be awarded her trophies and prizes.

Other recipients of trophies and prize money included: Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle – Ragga Soca and Soca Monarch champion; Zamfir “Man Zangie” Adams – National Calypso Monarch and Road March winning Shane ‘Hypa 4000’ Husbands.

Mention was made of Starlift Steel Orchestra, who scored a hat-trick in the Community Bands category and went on to represent SVG in the International Panorama competition held in Trinidad and Tobago.

This year was also a year of milestones, including the 50th anniversary of the Queen of the Bands competition, 30 years of Miss Carival, and the 50th year the Dragon Cultural Operation has been active.

Chair of the CDC Dennis Ambrose said while this year was a great year for the CDC and for Vincy Mas, he is seeking to improve many aspects of the industry.(AS)