For the past ten years, playing mas in San Fernando has not been the same for masqueraders since the main stage at Skinner Park was moved to the Rienzi Kirton Highway.
This year two Carnival bands in San Fernando intend to construct their own main stage at Skinner Park for their masqueraders to cross.
“The street revelry is one aspect of the Carnival but to cross a stage on a raised platform is the highlight of the masquerader’s joy,” said bandleader Aaron Kalicharan, of Kalicharan Carnival, one of the big bands out of San Fernando.
Kalicharan’s band and the Shut Up and Wine Crew were able to get the required approval from the San Fernando City Corporation and respective authorities to build a stage at Skinner Park for their masqueraders to cross.
The state is funded by both bands and will be used exclusively by their masqueraders on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It will be the starting and stopping points for the bands on both days.
A former National Carnival King Kalicharan said: “It has been more than ten years since revellers in South get to experience crossing that stage. This year, Kalicharan’s presentation, Addictive, is built on the concept of how we love and crave our sweets and candy.”
Kalicharan said he and the Shut Up and Wine Crew J’Ouvert band leader Naigum Joseph decided to construct the own stage because masqueraders have been longing for the main stage to return to the Skinner Park. Construction is expected to begin early next month.
San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello said this year there will only be one judging point at Harris Promenade. He said having the judging point at Rienzi Kirton Highway outside of National Academy for Performing Arts (South), as was done in previous years, was too expensive.
“This will mean spending money we already don’t have. If they want it at Skinner Park no problem because there are seating and toilet accommodations there already, but at Rienzi Kirton, we have to find these accommodations and more.”
Kalicharan said three of the seven sections from their band are already sold out. He said this year they expected a low turn out of masqueraders due to the downturn in the economy, but the demand for costumes proved otherwise.
“Our costumes are very attractive and affordable, you can get an all inclusive costume for $2,600 and a costume in a regular section from $1,000. As band leaders, we need to recognise and understand how we can have a positive impact on the emotions of our Kalicharan Carnival revellers. We made a management decision to do a proper farewell to the Skinner Park grounds before it closes for renovations.
“We also decided to have a stage, Soca Famalaylay stage was also brainstormed to create that astonishing platform for our revellers. Every year we push for innovative ways to exceed the expectations,” Kalicharan said.
The Kalicharan band in the past celebrated 25 years as Band of the year in South; 11 consecutive wins. And National King and Queen of Carnival several times.
Regrello confirmed that through the Corporation, approval was given to the band leaders to build the stage.
He said: “The venue is not an official judging point. The Corporation is happy to assist in any way to make Carnival a better one in South.”
He said Skinner Park will be closed for renovations in March. He recalled that in 2003 former mayor Ian Atherley had made a proposal for the park to be upgraded. The project has been approved by Local Government for works to begin later next month.