BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THOUSANDS lined the streets of Basseterre on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) for a colour-filled action-packed Sugar Mas Grand Parade.
Getting off to a late start, the procession was led by Sugar Mas 43 Grand Marshall John Dougla as it made its way from Best Buy parking lot in Buckley’s.
Immediately behind the Grand Marshall were a number of folklore groups, which included a half dozen masquerade troupes, mummies, Moka Jumbies and two bull troupes.
The Children’s Carnival, themed “Mas-story – A Patriotic Christmas”, followed and was led by six black and yellow uniformed majorettes trailed by the three zones of the Junior Parade.
It was observed that because of not being in a position to hear the music, the young revellers, most of the time were walking and not dancing.
They were followed by Solid Mas Camp which presented their Deep Blue Sea and was backed by the Small Axe Band, which was attempting to three-peat in the Road March Competitionn.
The Banker Mas Camp, which presented the theme Sweet Sizzling Summer, had highlighted a number of summer activities that took place in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the past year, such as CPL, Culturama and St. Kitts Music Festival.
DFX Mas Camp presented their ‘Sky is the Limit’, and though it was the smallest troupe on display, it was well represented.
Bringing up the rear of the parade was Phunn Vybz, which had the largest troupe on parade with almost 100 revellers. The Nu Vybes Band International, which provided musical accompaniment to this troupe, was often seen lagging behind the rest of the parade.
Viewed by thousands, the parade made its way along Cayon Street before turning down West Independence Square Street and onto South Independence Square Street, then onto East Independence Square Street, along Pond Road, south along Sandown Road, west along the Bay Road and up Fort Street.
On the Bay Road however, the troupes had to cross a mounted stage, where they had to perform in front of a group of judges.
The jamming however continued until the stipulated 9:00 p.m. cut off point.
Today (Jan. 2), the revelry continues with the Las’ Lap Jam.
