Carnival kudos to all

For yet another year I have been forced to miss our own Carnival celebrations, duty taking me abroad this time. What a good thing to have started early in life so that the absence does not hurt as much as it would a “just-come”! That’s what heartens me about the youngsters taking part in the Festival; early exposure to the “right” cultural environment can only be good for them. Of course we can argue over what that “right” cultural environment should be, constructive debate is always useful.{{more}}

My congratulations then to all the 2007 winners at the Junior, Miss Carnival, Soca/Kaiso, J’Ouvert and Mas levels. Thanks for the sacrifice, effort and wonderful contribution towards the development of not just Carnival but the total Vincy experience. Their contributions go far beyond the 10-day Festival for it helps to shape the unique character of Vincy culture while playing no small part in our economic development. I can only join Culture Minister Rene Baptiste in exhorting those who benefit financially either directly from Carnival or indirectly from its spin-off into the economy to invest more in it. Too often those asked to do so, don’t see it as an investment, they think that they are simply being asked to “give money” to Carnival. No, it’s an investment in our economy, our cultural and socio-economic development.

While I’m on this line, again I would like to associate myself with the Minister’s call for greater sponsorship of Junior Pan. That aspect is one of the most pleasing features of the development of our Carnival. To hear C.W. Prescod Primary, Layou, Troumaca, New Adelphi, to witness a band from St. Joseph’s Convent pounding its way in enjoyment along with the regulars from Sion Hill, Girls’ High School and Starlift, was for me, one of the highlights of the Festival.

Talking of Starlift, forty years of existence is no mean feat especially in a culturally neglected area like Pan. No praise can be too high for this organization.

Incidentally, like many others, Starlift has often been the victim of its own success. There are people who simply do not like them, because they are winners. What we fail to appreciate is that while Starlift has been able to keep together for four decades, what has happened to the many other bands, not just in Pan. We have had little continuity – Young Islands Harps, Abbucalypse, 20th Century, Potential, West End – Where are they now? As to musical bands, Swinging Stars in Dominica are still going strong; we have had about forty Vincy bands since. Starlift must be an inspiration in consistency, continuity and discipline which we will do well to emulate.

Saying so, my pleasure at the honouring of Melbourne Constance, Hugh Ragguette and Straker’s. Melbourne and Ragguette had the experience of being scoffed at, not taken seriously, but have stuck to it and become a part of the heart and soul of Vincy Mas. Their honouring is long overdue and their contribution ranks alongside the just-mentioned one of Starlift. Melbourne’s offshoots are today mas producers in their own right, another of his direct contributions to our 30 years of success.

My congrats also to “Fireman” Hooper, Bomani and the younger generation; they reveal a virtual embarrassment of riches that we posses. Our challenge is to ensure that the bottleneck we have developing on soca talent gets the wide outlet, regionally and internationally. Too much of our music goes to waste annually while we feed our young people on imported crap. One heartening experience for me was the guest appearances of “Fireman” and Bomani at Junior Pan.

It was a lesson in entertainment without vulgarity. These two were really exemplary. A pity that while they set the standard, the young Junior Soca Monarch, no doubt influenced by his elders, was the one felt compelled to be drawn into the “grey areas” to highlight his performance. Yet, as TOUCH would say, is “WE (elders) RESPONSIBLE”. He is merely walking into the footsteps of his teachers.

My very special congratulations to 2007 Monarch, Kenneth “Scakes” Alleyne. His victory will send positive vibrations throughout the Vincentian diaspora. It is a victory that compliments and perfectly fits our 30th anniversary for “Scakes” is of the generation of the ’70s. Who can forget the social commentary of the “Scakes” generation – Black Messenger, Reality, Producer (now making waves in the Gospel world as Fidel Taylor, his name) and De Man Age to name a few. What better crowing for the three decades of Vincy Mas!

Finally, though I am not a Miss Carnival fan, the victory of Miss Dominica, the fourth or fifth from her island, must tell us something about the Nature Isle. Have Dominicans managed to retain something of their cultural selves that we are washing out with the bath water? Food for thought, there.