?Fete With The Saints, the all-inclusive Carnival fete hosted annually by the St Mary's College Past Students' Union, is being hailed by many as the fete of choice for Carnival 2017. This accolade has not been lightly earned: the CIC guys have worked hard to achieve high standards since the fete's venue moved to the CIC Grounds at Serpentine Road, St Clair, in 2015.
Fete profits help pay for operating and capital expenses at St Mary's College. In recent years, the Past Students' Union has upgraded and furnished a second computer lab and a foreign language lab, refurbished and air-conditioned the 53-year-old Centenary Hall, financed a transformer to augment the electricity supply to the college, and met some coaching fees and kit expenses for various team sports.
Currently, three science labs –physics, chemistry and biology–need repairs and equipment upgrades, say St Mary's alumni. Profits from this year's Fete With The Saints will help upgrade the chemistry lab, while school administrators hope other benefactors and the Ministry of Education will help with the physics lab. The school will improve its biology lab at a later date, say alumni.
Before 2015, the annual fete was held at the college's compound on Frederick Street, and had earned a reputation for one of the better organised school fetes over the years. Since 2015, the fete has improved even more, to rank among the top tier of all T&T fetes–not just the school ones. As explained by Joe Hadad and Roberto Ramirez, the respective chairman and vice-chairman of the fete's organising committee, it's all in the details. They aim to provide an excellent experience.
This year's Fete With The Saints happens on Saturday, February 4, with music by Machel and Kes. Also performing are MX Prime and the Ultimate Rejects. DJs Nuphoric and Private Ryan will spin music.
Welcome drinks, including sparkling wines from Caribbean Bottlers Ltd, will set the tone for the evening, with venue decor by Ultimate Events Limited, led by Dean Ackin of Tribe.
Excellent food and new gourmet dishes are all part of the experience, say the organisers. Meals will be provided by Chaud Restaurant, Boomerang Caterers, Berment Caterers, JM Grill, More Vino Restaurant and Rassam's (authentic Indian dishes). Smaller nibbles include mini-rotis from Kanhai's of St James; special beef, chicken and lamb sliders by Phillip Mende; corn soup, geera pork, doubles, jerk wings, Melo's chicken rings, and Juici Jamaican patties and fajitas. Most food will be cooked on spot.
The fete promises some delightful desserts as well, whether you're watching your figure or not, and these sweets include Haagen Dazs ice-cream, Rich's cookies and assorted local sweets.
Premium drinks will be available at several bars, including a champagne and Proseco bar; a Johnny Walker bar (serving gold, green and black); a Yellow Tail Bubbles wine bar; a Belvedere vodka bar; a Stoli vodka cocktail bar; Angostura rum cocktails; Nestle cocktails; and a range of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, supplied by Carib and Angostura Special Events teams. A Sober Zone will be set up at the exit and will be stocked with appropriate drinks and snacks supplied by Beacon Insurance, Blue Waters and Coca Cola, plus coffee from Nestle and Juan Valdez.
Washroom facilities will be well-appointed, in air-conditioned trailers. Women can freshen their make-up in booths serviced by staff from Unilever's (Tresemme products) and Bryden PI.
Secure parking will be available in nearby car parks, including: Tatil Building on Maraval Road; Queen's Park Oval (entrance on Havelock Street), and the car park opposite the Elizabeth Street entrance; QRC (on the paved court-yard only); and the Digicel car park, opposite Trotters on Sweet Briar Road. Patrons who park on the streets are asked to observe all traffic regulations and not to block the driveways of residents. And there will be a free shuttle service to and from the car parks.
More info
Tickets:
North Trinidad–from the Past Students' office (624-8468) and Enrico Rajah at Trini Revellers Mas Camp (745-4391)
South–from Lighthouse (653-3177) and Felix Montenegro (684-5839)
East–from Gregg Mannette (678-7555)
Central–from Louis Ramdhanie (371-9193 and 725-2854).
Giveaways & promotions:
There will be a door prize of a double-door fridge donated by Reliable Appliances Ltd, headed by CIC alumnus Brian Manswell. (Patrons are reminded to write their names and addresses on the reverse of their tickets.)
There will also be giveaways from Digicel and Massy Motors. New makes of cars sold by Massy Motors will also be on display.