Veteran bandleader Ivan Kalicharan has captured his fifth consecutive San Fernando Band of the Year title with his portrayal Colours of Light, in the large band category. This makes 17 times that Kalicharan, who has been producing mas since 1983, has won the title. He won it four straight years between 2007 and 2010, with D'Stage, Tribal Explosion, Spectrum of the Sea and Outta De Rain Forest, last year. We People International presentation of D Big Dance Sel Duncan at Palms Club placed second, while Lionel Jagessar and Associates placed third with Around My Tepee.
After the announcements made by San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray at a news conference held at the City Hall yesterday, Kalicharan made a plea for equity in Band of the Year prizes in the two cities. "What we get in San Fernando is nothing compared to what they get in Port-of-Spain, even though our mas is just as good or even better," he said. "We can match up any band in Port-of- Spain," the man who has outfitted contestants in the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions over the years boasted. "Over the years, the National Carnival Bandleaders Association (NCBA) has been asking and pleading for more money, but nothing.
"They not sharing it correct...They just holding back the funds from the southern City." Kalicharan said the North/South disparity had also placed south bandleaders at a further disadvantage from potential sponsors.
"Our problem in San Fernando is sponsors...We need more sponsors to assist the bands," he said. "It is very costly-DJ's, security, permits, insurance. The law says we have to pay insurance for our DJ's and helpers. No insurance want to do this and the few that want to, the price is real high." He said they had asked and written thousands of letters to sponsors, "but business people preferred to give support to bands in Port-of-Spain. "Business people in the South support bands in Port-of-Spain, but they don't give nothing here in San Fernando," he added.
Kalicharan also accused the media of unequal treatment. "I only hope the media play up this like how they play up the fella in the other city, who won five times too," he said, in reference to Brian Mac Farlane who also won his fifth consecutive Band of the Year title in Port-of- Spain. Saying he felt "real good" about his victory, Kalicharan described the feeling "as a joy you can't explain no matter how many times you win...You feel something when you get the results." He said the route, which included a new judging point along the Rienzi Kirton Highway, was "the most beautiful," which contributed to making Carnival 2011 in San Fernando "the best ever."
This year, Coffee Street was eliminated as a traditional judging point. Kalicharan explained that the problem was not with Coffee Street but getting to this point through the high and narrow Carib Street. He suggested that it could be retained as a judging point, but not compulsory. Lamenting the lack of support from the business community, Kalicharan suggested bands should be given an incentive to parade on Coffee Street, which brings in revenue for the businesses located there.
Results
Band of the year (small)
Pan Mas Tradition -A tribute to Rudolph Belgrove
Band of the year (medium)
The Nations People-From the Black Hills They Came
Masquerader of the year (male)
Owen Hinds Jr-Battle of the Marabuntas
Masquerader of the year (female)
Peola Marchan-D Jewelled Chandelier
