SHAL­IZA HAS­SANALI

Se­nior In­ves­tiga­tive Re­porter

shal­iza.has­sanali@guardian.co.tt

Car­ni­val Con­tract and DNA were the two most played songs for the Pa­rade of Bands in down­town Port-of-Spain yes­ter­day. How­ev­er, opin­ions were di­vid­ed on which should win the Road March among mas­quer­aders in four large bands—The Lost Tribe, Pa­parazzi, Tribe and Bliss—that crossed the judg­ing point on South Quay just be­fore 1 pm.

The Lost Tribe, with its pre­sen­ta­tion Fly, the first large band to pa­rade be­fore the judges and a hand­ful of spec­ta­tors, made an ap­pear­ance at 11 am.

Chip­ping to Mi­cal Te­ja’s DNA, mas­quer­ad­er Justin Piper, in the sec­tion Wild Par­rot, said the song was his favourite for Car­ni­val.

“It’s tru­ly an in­fec­tious song. The best I heard for the sea­son. Te­ja de­serves the Road March ti­tle,” he said

Janet Lo­gan, who was in the Bird of Par­adise sec­tion, said her choice was Bun­ji Gar­lin’s Car­ni­val Con­tract.

“The song came out late but it’s a strong con­tender. It grips you. This is the song to watch,” Lo­gan said, as she danced with a group of friends who agreed with her.

Pa­parazzi mas­quer­ad­er Ja­nine Abra­ham said she is a Te­ja fan and would sup­port him all the way.

“I love DNA. To me, it’s the best song of the sea­son ... noth­ing can’t beat it,” Abra­ham said.

Bask­ing in the hot sun with a drink in hand, De­von Ma­haraj said Bun­ji’s tune was “out of this world”.

H added, “I am ex­pend­ing all my en­er­gy on this song to­day. I hope I can play in the band to­mor­row. Every time I hear this song I am just get­ting in­to a fren­zy. Bun­ji is the best ... he is ah boss. If he ain’t get Road March they thief him this year.”

Joanne Goodridge, an­oth­er Pa­parazzi rev­eller, said she was torn be­tween DNA and Car­ni­val Con­tract.

“Gosh, don’t ask me who I like for Road March. I can’t make up my mind. I love both of them. I am con­fused,” she said

As he crossed the judg­ing point in Bliss’s pre­sen­ta­tion Mys­tique, Lyn­don Shade said DNA was his pick.

“The first day I heard Mi­cal’s song I knew it was a win­ner. He gone clear this year. The Road March is his.”

De­bra Moon­sam­my said she was back­ing Bun­ji, “Bun­ji has my vote. That song is a win­ner.”

Her com­pan­ion, Daniel Agard, agreed: “He’s go­ing for the kill this Car­ni­val.”

Tribe rev­eller Char­maine Au­gus­tine said Car­ni­val Con­tract had rubbed off on her overnight.

“Ini­tial­ly, DNA was my choice but when I hear Bun­ji tune I can’t stop lov­ing it,” she said.