Wearing feathered headpieces, a bevy of beauties greets Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald and NCC Chairman Howard Chin Lee as they enter Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Below: Fearsome Midnight Robbers spar against each other in the courtyard of Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain at yesterday’s launch of Carnival.
President of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Association (Tuco) Eric Taylor says for the first time there will be a 2009 Junior Calypso Fiesta. Taylor made the disclosure yesterday, while giving an overview of plans for calypso at the launch of 2009 Carnival at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road in Port-of-Spain yesterday. The theme of this year’s Carnival is: Trinidad and Tobago—The Home of Carnival.
Taylor said, “For the first time, there will be a Junior Calypso Fiesta. It will be a microcosm of the Dimanche Gras. It will be headed by the capable Thora Best,” principal of Rose Hill RC School in Laventille. In keeping with the thrust to generate an interest in calypso among youth, he said they would be looking at developing thrifty habits among young people.
“Despite the economic downturn, we will be mounting a prize structure of the highest quality. We will be offering a laptop computer as part of the prize,” Taylor added. Addressing yesterday’s launch, Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald urged stakeholders to work together to bring lasting solutions to the routing of Carnival bands and the bringing together of interest groups—mas, pan and calypso.
Chin Lee—T&T home of Carnival
Chairman of the National Carnival Commission Howard Chin Lee said T&T Carnival had spawned "105 T&T-styled Carnivals from London to New York." He read the logo “As New Orleans is to jazz...As Paris is to fashion...As Jamaica is to reggae. Trinidad and Tobago is to Carnival.” He reiterated that T&T was the birthplace of calypso, steelband, limbo, kaiso, chutney and a plethora of unique Carnival expressions.
Highlights
Among the other highlights was an overview by NCC commissioner Franz Lambkin, mas overview by Owen Hinds and pan overview from Pan Trinbago’s president Patrick Arnold. Performances came from reigning Calypso Monarch 2008 Michael Osuna (Sugar Aloes), Dr Leroy Calliste (Black Stalin), LH Pan Grove, Woobrook Playboyz,
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