Even as thousands of revellers partied through the streets of San Fernando yesterday morning, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s decision to step down and the debacle surrounding suspended Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher still found their way on stage during J’Ouvert celebrations.
For decades, D Blue Boys have kept the ole mas alive by depicting relevant and popular events in the country through sarcasm, humour and satire. This year, their presentation Wha Goin On was no different.
The band was one of two ole mas bands, the other Phillip and Friends with Believe It or Not, still keeping the tradition alive.
Some of D Blue Boys’ portrayals included Erla Gets d’ Sack - Now She Out of Commission, Deputy Plenty Takes Charge; Stuart’s Penal Roots and PM in Waiting. They also found humour in the controversy between the Auditor General and Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
Phillip and Friends’ presentation also included Prime Minister Rowley’s move to step down and handing over the reins of power to Energy Minister Stuart Young and the State of Emergency. Other portrayals included Plenty Pipe, No Water and Ah Still Seeing Pot-holes.
San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris, who officially opened the celebrations, said an estimated 30 J’Ouvert bands registered this year.
“This is our J’Ouvert, San Fernando J’Ouvert. I told Trinidad and Tobago we have the biggest J’Ouvert in the country and what you are all in store for is one of the greatest shows for the Carnival season that you will be seeing in San Fernando.
“We are very proud about what we do and part of the Carnival experience in Trinidad should be San Fernando J’Ouvert,” the mayor said as he opened the festivities.
Boasting that the size of the bands has also increased, he said there is a lot of interest by members of the public in San Fernando J’Ouvert, especially after City Month, which saw 12,000 revellers.
Hopeful that everyone enjoys a safe, productive and clean Carnival, he said, “The message to everyone is play safe and enjoy themselves in the revelry in Trinidad and Tobago.”
The mayor assured that police officers were out in full force to ensure J’Ouvert was the safest in the country.
Rize Dawn of a New Day was the first band to perform before the judges in front of the Southern Academy for Performing Arts along the Rienzi Kirton Highway.
Last year, the judging point was at King’s Wharf, but it was reverted to SAPA after complaints by masqueraders and spectators.
Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell also took a “stress reliever,” taking time out to jump up with the Glam Jam band.
South/Central Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Mystar said celebrations in the Southern, Southwestern and Central policing divisions were incident-free and there was an excellent turnout of police officers. The early morning celebrations were carded to end at 11 am, but the police gave masqueraders and spectators an additional hour and officially locked off the festivities around noon.