Paparazzi parties on the seas

When it comes to enjoying a party, regardless of the weather or ambience, no one does it better than a Trinbagonian. This was proven last Sunday when Paparazzi Carnival hosted its first boat cruise aboard the Harbour Master. Scheduled to sail at 10 am, the vessel never departed its pier, on the waterfront of Econo Car Rentals in Cocorite, until over an hour later as many patrons, guest performers and caterers arrived late at the venue. Utilising primarily the upper deck of the three-tiered vessel, originally out of Bridgetown, Barbados, the party didn’t start until anchors were weighed and departure from the berth, no doubt honouring an agreement of no playing of loud music in close proximity to neighbouring Bayside Towers. However, once a mile or two from land, house DJ Merry Perry was joined by DJs Jet Li of Arch Nemesis Crew and Dwayne (Studio Guys Movement) to crank up the volume to fuel one rollicking party.

 

 

Urged to wear beachwear, patrons immersed themselves in the sounds, with guest performances coming from 50th Anniversary of Independence Calypso Monarch Chucky and crowd-please Chris Garcia. As expected, Garcia literally rocked the boat when he performed his evergreen Chutney Bacchanal, from atop a speaker on the ship’s bow. Landlubbers aboard even formed a Congaline that snaked its way around the upper deck. As noon approached, foreboding and ominous dark clouds suddenly formed on the horizon, with huge, bright lightning strikes in the distance. But, yet the party continued, with the vessels helmsman expertedly swerving here, and swerving there, as the sea got more choppy, avoiding the oncoming, inevitable bad weather. Even as the Harbour Master returned to land, in time for the 3 pm boarding of an ensuing cruise, the rain caught up with it. This did not deter the now inebriated patrons who danced even harder in the rain.

 

 

One would have thought that this was the end of a well spent and enjoyable day but this was not to be as Paparazzi Carnival bandleader Tracey Andre invited everyone to the band’s mas camp on Murray Street, in Woodbrook. She called ahead to ensure that a huge cauldron of pelau was cooked, with patrons arriving with their coolers and the band’s bar opened. The impromptu party went way into Sunday evening, even after the additional entertainment of the steelband float parade along Ariapita Avenue. Andre, so enthused by the enthusiasm of her masqueraders,  also announced that every Friday evening, until Carnival weekend 2013, her band will host an after-work lime at a band house.