BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH less than 24 hours before the Sugar Mas’ 41 Grand Parade, preparatory work at various mas’ camps is in overdrive with final touches being made to costumes for the estimated thousands of revellers who would be invading the city.
Information which SKNVibes received from the Carnival Secretariat indicates that about nine troupes would be on display at the event, including Get Pinkt, Inferno’s Bailamos, Banker’s Til d’Soil, Fusion’s Kittitian Roots, Splash’ Colours in Fantasy, Christine Walwyn’s Phunn Makers and Ashley Allers’ Fhunn Vybz.
In effort to get a feel of their level of preparation, the support they received and the general atmosphere at the camps, SKNVibes paid visits to some and spoke with representatives of others.
And most of them indicated that they are anticipating a rush of revellers this afternoon who would be securing their colourful and tantalising costumes to be worn at the Grand Parade.
“We have distributed costumes already from the orange and blue sections and, by 6:00 this evening, we should have completed all costumed and headpieces and we would have finished distributing. All of our revellers are hyped and ready to hit the street. The public can be assured a treat from Fhunn Vybz! It is going to be fun on the street and plenty action,” Lever Flanders of the Fhunn Vybz Mas’ Band told SKNVibes.
The Fusion Mas’ Camp was equally abuzz with activity with workers finishing preparations for its Kittitian Roots troupe. And according to ‘Piece-ah-Man’, Fusion promises “a party atmosphere” for its revellers.
“Preparations are going well so far. From about 3:30 p.m., people would be coming and collecting their costumes to go on the road from about 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. We are putting our last bits and pieces together so that when everybody comes there would not be too much of a rush. Revellers can expect a fete and party atmosphere! You can’t go wrong! We will have the sweetest band in the world jamming with us and Tombstone International. Revellers are geared up and ready to go, so we expect a real, real party and fete.”
Organisers of the Phunn Makers Mas Camp said there has been a steady flow of traffic through the camp today but it is expected that once the 4:00 p.m. hour strikes, the traffic would increase considerably.
Phunn Makers’ Christine Walwyn explained to this publication that the camp would remain open until 10:30 this evening, but will reopen shortly after midnight until all of the Phunn Maker revellers have been attended to.
For Parade Day, she promised loads of fun which includes a meal, plenty to drink, friendly atmosphere and good company.
Coreentje Phipps-Benjamin of the Splash Mas’ Band said there have been some challenges but excitement rings through the camp and preparations are also being made to assist persons who are only now decided on which troupe they which to revel.
The Solid SKB Camp also had its difficulties but has seen past them and is now making providing service to its customers.
Organiser Paula Heyliger told SKNVibes, “We had a little setback but we have managed to solve and overcome it. I must say that our sponsors have been very, very helpful and we are grateful for that.”
The Inferno Mas’ Camp – as explained by one of its organisers, Unoma Allen – is expected to be buzzing with activity even until the morning of Last Lap (Dec. 2). She said the camp would remain open until about midnight and even tomorrow to allow patrons time to collect their costumes. And even on the morning of Last Lap the camp would be catering to those persons who would be desirous of joining the troupe, if only for the last day of Carnival.
And now the countdown begins; the countdown to what is expected to be one of the best Grand Parades the island has ever seen.
While some ring in the dawn of 2013 either in church or with relatives, many others would be scurrying about readying themselves for the Grand Parade, where there is guarantee of plenty action and plenty fun.
