Portrayals from Curepe-based children’s mas band Hott Stuff Promotions have won the Junior Carnival King and Queen titles for the second year straight.
Nikolai Jagdeo and Jermiah Walters managed to repeat their dominating performances from last year’s competition when they crossed the stage at the Grand Stand in the Queen’s Park Savannah on Wednesday night.
Jagdeo and Walters, who are Form One students at neighbouring secondary schools in El Dorado, improved on their second-place performances in the preliminary round to claim their back-to-back titles. In fact, the 12-year-olds admitted they were not as confident, like last year, when they qualified for Wednesday’s final.
In an interview after the results were announced, Walters, a student of Tunapuna Government Secondary School, said: “I am excited because after the preliminaries I was not sure I would have gotten into the finals. “When I saw the results, I said that I have to put my everything into the finals.”
Jagdeo, a Hillview College student, said: “I actually feel elated. I myself did not think I would make it because of the challenges I had in the preliminaries.”
Both said they drew from their experience and advice from the band’s director and designer Franklyn Jagdeo, in their efforts to retain their crowns.
Jagdeo’s steelpan-themed costume, Celebrations Of the Pan, featured numerous variations of the national instrument and patriotic colour scheme. He used large pan sticks to mimic the motions of a pan player performing.
Walters’ environmentally conscious costume, The Beauty Of Our National Bird—The Scarlet Ibis, depicted an enormous bird perched on top of a mangrove tree. She was introduced on stage with a brief statement over the need to protect the bird’s natural habitat.
The band, with its 2019 presentation Our Pride of Trinbago, had two other competitors in the finals. Amaya Porter placed eighth in the junior queen competition, while Justin Ramkalawan placed second behind Jagdeo.
While all the costumes in the juniors competitions were understandably smaller than the seniors, the masquerades compensated for this with their energetic performances.
In the Junior King and Queen competition for schools, Keoni Henry and Shayera Olivierre claimed the top spots with their presentations Ahearn The Rainbow Maker and Limbo.
After she was crowned, Olivierre said the title was especially satisfying as she had already planned to take a break from the annual competition before crossing the stage on Wednesday night.
Junior King of Carnival (Schools)
1. Keoni Henry—Ahearn The Rainbow Maker—418
2. Peter Barrow—Might Of Rome—392
3. Triston Constantine—Devil King In De Bamboo—386
4. Jesus Carlow—Mas Boi—365
5. Aleem Spence—Azrael-The Enabler—360
Junior King of Carnival (Non-School)
1. Nikolai Jagdeo—Celebrations Of The Pan—442
2. Justin Ramkalawan—King Fireman - Fancy Sailor—415
3. Samuel Jackson—Le Grande Pierrot-Commendia Dell Arte!—411
4. Peter Trepte—Fire In The Red House—409
5. Merrick Barnes—The Mythical Aqua Dragon—409
6. Jayden Nandlal—Chi Min - The Keeper Of The Dragon Pearl—407
7. Mekhi Pascal—Black Gold—405
8. Kamali Pierre—Nemali The Peacock—398
9. Malique Marshall—Effigy Of A Great Man—387
10. Neomiah Thompson—Bright Africa - A Tribute To George Bailey—361
Junior Queen Of Carnival (Schools)
1. Shayera Olivierre—Limbo—421
2. Sanaa Fraser—Moonlight Pantasea—404
3. Whitney Bonaparte—Danse Madame Danse—392
4. Aaliyah Nurse—Light Of Ogala Sioux—366
5. Alexis Snagg—I Warrahoon—358
Junior Queen of Carnival (Non-Schools)
1. Jermiah Walters—The Beauty Of Our National Bird - The Scarlet Ibis—447
2. Angel Williams—Jewel To A King—428
3. Tekeyah Fletcher-Marshall—Nature’s Plan—428
4. Taraja Brown—Making Waves - Machel Montano—426
5. Soleil Duke—Feather Explosion—420
6. Sherren Connor—The Queen Of Hearts—420
7. Jade Edwards—Play Yuh Cards Right - Tribute To Horace James—409
8. Amaya Porter—The Gems Of Tobago—408
9. Raisa Farrell—Wonpe - I Come In Peace—393
10. Aliyah Morris—Mother Of Rhythm—392