The Guardian by Anthony Clarence
...The question has to be asked though, are we killing Carnival and sacrificing the mas and spectator participation by the overkill of police methodology and the rigid rulings of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) for order and structure of the parade of the bands?
The administration seems to be averse to the Port-of-Spain mayor and the Carnival arrangements of the city corporation. Is it a case of political spite continuing, as was the case with the previous mayor Louis Lee Sing?
Chairman Allison Demas claims that the NCC will revive Downtown Carnival in 2015, but who ran it down in the first place? Who took the children’s mas out of downtown Port-of-Spain and opted for the new Adam Smith Square starting point and a new specified route for their adult counterparts?...
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Culture will continue to evolve, although not always positively. Frustrating truth eh!
masai,
For the sake of the next generation I hope the authorities lock-up every bear breast or naked woman seen on the road for carnival, this have nothing to do with evolution.
Agreed. Its more like 'regression' -- a movement in a negative direction,
On the other hand, who designs these costumes?
Jam and wine soca, music trucks, skimpy bead and feather costumes, little pan (on a truck), less calypsos (try beating Bois), or something about Aloes, are all part of the demise of our Carnival - especially in Port of Spain.
Power and Control (NCC, NCBA, Pan Trinbago, TUCO, etc.) + Big Money (Millions in prizes, allocations, etc.) = Feeding Frenzy + Poor Quality = New Standard (music, mas, behaviour)
Colleagues,
What your are experiencing in T&T in no different from what we are experiencing in Antigua. Carnival has been transformed to Carnal-val. Genuine cultural artists and spectators whose lives are guided by moral principles and values, continue to show a serious lack of interest in what is currently referred to by the relevant authority as Carnival. However. we cannot deny the fact, that we exist within political economies, Hence, we must be fully aware that the only moving forces that political economies recognize, are avarice and the war between the avaricious competition. Many in authority has divorced themselves from moral understanding in favour of money understanding. Morals has certainly being thrown out of the window by those in authority. We who are truly conscious about the importance of the upkeep of morals in our daily lives and our cultural expressions, must not allow ourselves to be daunted by what pertains currently. We must stand resolute and be determined to always be role models for our youths. Always speak truth to power.
One Pan!!! One Love !!!!!
The Panthologist
Stafford Joseph you spoke the truth, lets hope it set us free from the decadence that has become a norm in our society. ALWAYS SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
To tell you the truth we trinis are very good at mashing up we own ting, we'll go thru great lengths and find every excuse to mashup our heritage and culture but for once look at our neighbors in jamacia do you think they will mash up Reggae Sunsplash. Wake up my people Carnival is we ting lets come together and clean it up. Lets get more children involve and try to make carnival something all Trinidadians will be proud of at home and abroad. Bless up! Natty
Excellent position Natty.
But please stop looking to Jamaica. They too have their problems. In fact Reggae Sunsplash mash up in 1998 and apart from 1 year has not been staged since (Other reggae shows have come on board, though)
They have their problems and sometimes say 'Why we cyaan be like Trinidad?
So let us get down to solving our problems and not look at anyone else!
The Continuing Link of this Discussion is incorrect, This is the link to THE KILLING OF CARNIVAL, http://guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2014-03-27/killing-carnival
Bede, while I take your point, nothing here is actually irrelevant. It seems that people are saying that it is not just the 'administration' and the attitude of the police engendered by this administration's policies that are killing carnival.
But here is my take. This is nothing new. SInce the very beginning, there has always been a struggle between some of those in political power and the mass of the people over carnival celebrations. I remember, as a boy growing up, realising that the carnival proclamations that were posted had a number of restrictions , thinly veiled as 'protecting the tourists -- visitors to our island' from the rowdiness of the people. 'Laws' against the throwing of powder by sailors, against the 'offensiveness' of the flourbag sailors and blue devils, against the 'extortionist tactics of the djab malassie et al,
The feeling was always that 'decent people' had to be protected from the vulgar masses. It was only the problem caused by the fact that some of the more well-to do, (jacket wearing) persons the 'lhomme camisol" threw themselves wholeheartedly into the festivities that helped prevent harsher treatment of the masses.
So, although for a while, there was some degree of unity of purpose and intent in the society where carnival was concerned, this disconnect between those in political power and the mass of the people is nothing new.
It is a cultural phenomenon, a look at the history of the shouter baptists was for a while a close parallel,
Even our brothers of East Indian heritage had similar problems. Ismith Khan in his classic novel 'The Jumbie Bird' relates a heartrending story of the attitude of the authorities to Indian stickfighting traditions, and how their 'regulations' emasculated proud men.
But carnival cannot be killed.No set of stupid people with mindless regulations, no deployment of brutal police with hateful grouses can stop the carnival. And while it is true that even the people themselves seem to be losing their way, the spirit will survive. In an attempt to retain out wholeness there will be an atavistic thrust that will lead our people back.
Ah promiss yuh. It go come back! Ah seein de signs areddy
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