BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT was truly a folkloric and creative display at the Sugar Mas’ 2011/2012 Grand Carnival Parade yesterday (Jan. 2) when a kaleidoscope of colour paired with addictive carnival music moved through the streets of Basseterre and its immediate surroundings.
Notwithstanding that the event began three-hours after its scheduled time, the parade, led by the Grand Marshall Hyacinth ‘Baby’ Percival Huggins, made its way from Wigley Avenue along Cayon Street with each group pausing briefly at the front of the old education building to display their skills.
Immediately behind the Grand Marshall were a host of folklore troupes including several masquerade troupes, three bull troupes, mock-a-jumbies and clown troupes.
One of the most impressive was the Acrobats who – while at the designated area – put on a brilliant display of jumping over garden forks and breaking slabs of concrete on each other’s stomachs with a sledge hammer.
The Children’s Carnival, themed “St. Kitts-Nevis Culture and Future”, followed and was led by 50-plus uniformed and spritely-looking majorettes.
More than an hour before the event began the streets of the city were lined with onlookers, all eager to see the products of this year’s festivities.
Viewed by hundreds, 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.
SKNVibes understands that one or more of the registered troupes had some difficulty with their costumes. However, that was not enough to stop revellers from playing mas’ and enjoying the sounds of their favourite bands and favourite Sugar Mas’ 40/40 tunes.
Banker’s ‘Somewhere in Taiwan’ troupe was accompanied by the Nu Vybes Band International, Christine Walwyn’s ’10:40 Phunn and Mas, Carival Gems of Class’ troupe was accompanied by the Grand Masters Band and Plush’s Fusion Fantasy was accompanied by the Small Axe Band.
Gyrations, mas’ and music - all in an atmosphere of jubilation - were the order of the day with revellers enjoying the penultimate Sugar Mas’ 40/40 activity before returning to their regular routines.
Of particular note was the Willfulskilful Clown Troupe – the largest clown troupe on parade - which appeared to have been organised and dedicated to the memory of the late Dwayne Sturge.
The former Chairman of the Soca Monarch Carnival Sub-committee departed this life on December 4, 2011, much to the shock of many. And according to those with whom he had worked, the void which his passing has left could never be filled.
The banner, which was carried at the front of the troupe, featured – among other things – a picture of Sturge and the words “We miss you”.
Those not registered in a troupe but wanted to participate in the revelry and enjoy themselves, did not hesitate to do so, joining in the mile-long parade somewhere near its tail.
The session was not altogether incident-free as one of the marshals - employed to ensure that revellers do not get to close to the trailers – had his legs run over by one of the tractors. Information reaching this media house suggested that the man is hospitalised and awaiting surgical treatment.
The jamming however continued until the stipulated 9:00 p.m. cut off point.
But it does not not end there! Today (Jan. 3), the revelry continues with Las’ Lap Jam.
