J’Ouvert Ban: Residential Areas off limits to PoS mas

J’Ouvert bands that pass through St Clair, St James or Woodbrook on Carnival Monday will be stopped and immediately disbanded by law-enforcement officers, Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing said yesterday. He gave the warning during a joint press conference with National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Allison Demas, NCC CEO Clarence Moe and acting Deputy Police Commissioner Raymond Craig at City Hall, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

“There will be zero tolerance to J’Ouvert bands that do not comply with these rules,” said Lee Sing. Earlier, deputy mayor Keron Valentine announced that Ariapita Avenue would be reopened to J’Ouvert mas bands. “If you recall, last year we had restricted the flow of mas bands and renamed Ariapita Avenue ‘Pan Avenue,’” he said.

Valentine said because of problems, a decision was made to move the steelband bomb competition back to City Hall on Frederick Street. “All mas bands now are free to go downtown to South Quay and they must stick to the parade routes,” he said.
Valentine said there would be police compliance teams to ensure rules were followed.

“Last year, we had people from these residential areas saying that bands were passing their streets, messing up their cars and walls. Any band found going off the route will be stopped, they will be put off the parade route and they will be disbanded.”

Craig told reporters that this Carnival there would be an increase in the number of police on the streets and highways. “They will be out to ensure that we keep our roads safe,” Craig said.