Mas man Fareid Carvalho stands up for a Taste of Carnival

[Pan Times]

Newsday - Mellissa Doughty

Masman Fareid Carvalho works on the headpiece of his 2022 presentation at his mas camp on Alfredo Street in Woodbrook on February 3. Carvalho has competed for 21 years in the Carnival King competition at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain. - Photo by Sureash Cholai

This is going to be Fareid Carvalho's 22nd attempt to win the King of Carnival. But this year is different from all others. While Carvalho does want the title, entering the competition is about showing his support for the Government's A Taste of Carnival.

The highest he has placed in the competition is third.

The playwright, masquerader, actor and producer was shocked at the amount of negative comments and naysayers there were to the Taste of Carnival.

"Last year, we had no Carnival and I was grieving. Carnival is in my blood, it is in all of our blood...

"I am not politically affiliated at all, I don't even vote. However, I think being in this Government's position is very hard because it is, 'damn if you do and damn if you don't,'" he said in an interview at one of his camps at Alfredo Street, Woodbrook.

"Last year you had no Carnival, you had nothing, you were upset. Now that they are trying something – A Taste of Carnival – they are upset. So you can't really win."

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