Now, bus rides are foreign to me. I haven't rode on a bus in years, perhaps not since I was a child. Not as public transport, not on a know your country tour, not on an excursion. So understand my skepticism when asked to join the WICB's Bus Lime on Friday. A promotional event ahead of the second West Indies vs Australia Digicel Test Match, the caravan got rolling from Movie Towne, Invaders Bay. My innings started cautiously. At 8.50 pm it was definitely a bit early to expect Ariapita Avenue to be swinging but throw a bus blaring urban hits and a bevy of beautiful brand ambassadors (Digicel, Monster, Blue Waters) onto Trinidad's notorious liming strip and heads are bound to turn. Unfortunately for those heads though, this Bus Lime had no interest in stopping here. At least not just yet. First, to Woodford Cafe, Chaguanas and Grand Bazaar.
To Chaguanas we go
This busload of life long limers hit Woodford Cafe hard! By this time I was just beginning to "play my strokes" and wished we hadn't stopped. But I digress. Tickets and other promotional items in tow; the team fittingly dressed in their whites were about to treat patrons to a pleasant Friday evening surprise. "Who is the current West Indies captain?" Name three players in the current team." Come up with the right answers and as easy as that groups of friends were scoring tickets to at least one of the days of the second Test match. "Honestly I would have gone to the match anyway but this promotion is the type of thing needed to persuade fans again," said a passionate Ishan Seepersad shortly after he and his four friends became lucky winners. "There is already a kind of excitement surrounding West Indies cricket at the moment and encouraging people to go out and support should further inspire the guys on the field," were the words of Devanand Mangra. The stop at Woodford resembled a Chris Gayle innings. It was a blitz! Brisk questions, brief answers, broad smiles and giveaways galore! Patrons were left in their glee. And then it was on to Toppers Sports Lounge in Grand Bazaar where it was much the same. Miranda Ramoutar, herself a ticket winner said: "After the performance in the first Test, I'm very sure we could beat Australia so I'm behind my team." "My mummy is the cricket fan in the family so its a good thing I came out tonight. I'll give her this ticket," said Sephra Hosein from behind a wide smile. Like many other appreciative Toppers patrons clearly she was feeling quite "topper".
Master stroke
After making the night for dozens such fans at those venues, it was back to the bus for the innings flourish, the master stroke-the Avenue! A "Wine to De Side" and a "Bottle of Rum" later (maybe more...songs that is) and the WICB Bus Lime was back to beginnings. By now, the Avenue was in full swing and a perfect place to complete the promotion with the final giveaways. Swift, to the point and all in good fun, the Bus Lime had brought the West Indies team into public focus with a grand promotion. Only the attendance numbers over the next five days will show, though, just how much the West Indies team and its administrative support has done to restoreA bevy of beautiful brand ambassadors from Digicel at the Trini Posse stand. What's a bus lime without them? public faith. My guess is, WI all in!