BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Children’s Parade has been described as the usual colourful tradition that has become one of the pillars of the Sugar Mas celebration but, for many, this year’s event which was held on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 31) had left much to be desired.
Depicting the theme “Mas-story – A Patriotic Christmas”, the youngsters began their parade in Greenlands and made their way down Cayon Street, down Church Street, across Liverpool Row, up Fort Street, right across Cayon Street, down West Independence Square Street, right along the Bay Road and up Fort Street.
The Zone One group had donned costumes bearing a kaleidoscope of colours depicting Revelry, while the Zone Two group depicted Warriors and Zone Three, dressed in costumes which colour scheme mirrored the national flag, represented Liamuiga.
When the procession had gotten to the top of Fort Street, it was to have progressed into Victoria Road and culminate at Warner Park, but another lap was made before it advanced to the ending point.
Musical entertainment was provided by Real Right Entertainment and the Kollision Band as the children entertained the many onlookers who had lined the side of the roads. The onlookers were also entertained by other mas players, including the Majorettes and Masqueraders.
Following the parade, SKNVibes questioned a number of individuals about their take on the event and an overwhelming majority said they were disappointed because it was considerably smaller than last year’s and years before.
“The participation is horrible, horrible. I think they need to participate more. All these children here on the sides of the road and there are not enough children in the troupes,” one woman lamented.
One young lady classified it as “boring” and one of her acquaintances suggested that the system employed last year should have been repeated, whereby each group had stopped by a stage erected on the Bay Road and gave spectators a short performance.
One man expressed concerns about the choice of songs that were played for the children’s entertainment and their behaviour during the parade, noting that it was a repetition of what occurred last year.
“It’s colourful. I don’t know if I can make a comparison between this year’s and last year’s, but something occurred to me as the kids were passing. It seems to me that we have to have a discussion at some particular point about morality, culture…This is particularly troubling! The question is how do we maintain culture while we maintain our moral foundation in society and spreading morality and making it pervasive?”
Principal of the Tucker Clark Primary School Sylvester Charles said the parade was “a little smaller than usual” and indicated that “it needed to be better organised”. He however offered a suggestion which could boost the level of participation.
“I think it has been dwindling from over the years. Perhaps a suggestion that they could take is go back to the school system where the schools were represented as a single troupe by itself instead trying to organise it in zones.”
He said mas makers could go into the schools and teach the art form, thereby promoting self-sufficiency and love for an ownership of the art form.
Another interviewee said she had always enjoyed Children’s Carnival and although it was smaller than she has been accustomed to see, the event is a great opportunity for the children to have fun.
Mas-Story was on full display yesterday (Jan. 1) along with the adult troupes during the Grand Parade.
