St Joseph Kiddies Carnival regulars were all remarking about this year’s high-quality costumes presented at the annual parade in the old town on Carnival Sunday.
Through looming clouds, that waited till the parade was through before delivering bucket-a-drop rainfall, the organisers kept things rolling smoothly along as the crowd grew in size and enthusiasm.
The people in the ice cream van along the King Street route did not have a spare moment, neither did neighbourhood busy-bee Marjorie Phillips and her crew serving food next to the judges’ booth opposite the Fulchan house.
Last year’s Large Band winners, House of Jacqui, which this year presented a tribute to the golden age of calypso entitled Kaiso Kaiso, paraded in style featuring some of the larger, more elaborate costumes on the day.
They followed a lively presentation by De Charmers called: Peace, Love and Togetherness with some of the younger masqueraders on display. Bewinged youngsters in white passed the judges’ table along a damp roadway.
Yolande and Associates’ The Beauty of Carnival was a celebration of celebrations. The emphasis was on colour, glitter and revelry. Choreographed entries by the masqueraders were a highlight of their presentation.
Amanda and Pamela, of St Joseph, presented Party We Love with an emphasis on colour and lace and depictions of old-time “pretty mas.” Green Hill Kiddies United, another St Joseph band, did a presentation on environmental preservation called Unity of Royalty.
Then came Vanessa and Friends’ Remembering the Grandmaster (Lord Kitchener). Each section represented a leading song by the late calypso bard. It was one of the bigger bands and each section was led on stage by brightly outfitted young Lord Kitcheners with trademark suits and matching hats.
Rainorama, for example, was followed by Sugar Bum Bum and Bees Melody and the presentation closed with Toco Band – laden coconut trees, round the neck steelpans and all.
Protest in Folklore Band by Carnival Arts College and led by David Williams was among the more interesting presentations with sections based on folklore characters and their battles to preserve nature and antiquity.
The parade ended with Troubled Waters – a presentation by Think It. Create It. By that time the rainclouds had started losing patience and was about to send its blessings down on the St Joseph crowd.
Another well-organised, colourful and enjoyable outing for the St Joseph neighbourhood, and visiting bands and masqueraders from other towns and villages. Organiser Reynold Ollivierre and his team seemed pleased with the outcome.