Costume builders are being strongly cautioned to refrain from using the dead leaves of banana and plantain in the construction of sensay costumes as this would further spread the Black Sigatoka disease, a leaf spot fungus that the country is now fighting. One carnival expert has already endorsed this position.
Coordinator of the Black Sigatoka Management Program Carol Abraham said, “If you are making the costume, and you come from one part of the country, and you come to the opening parade, for instance, you find that the fungus is able to move,” she said. “Even if the leaf has reached the black stage, the fungus is still alive and well,” she said.
She urged people, “To use anything else to make your sensay: plastic, paper, cloth, rope…just leave the dry leaves alone because most of the country is infected.”
Abraham also called on farmers not to use the dead leaves as a cushion for moving agricultural produce from one place to another because this causes further spread of the disease, which was first sighted in Dominica in 2012. It has now spread into major communities such as Salisbury, Portsmouth and Grand Bay.
“Right now it is practically all over the island except the extreme north. But I am convinced that we can manage the disease once everybody does what they have to do. Whether you have two plants in your back yard or you have a big acre it’s the same basic principle”.
Meantime Abraham also noted that, “Our plantain acreage is increasing in spite of Black Sigatoka.” More women, she said, are roasting plantain by the road.
Carnival film documentary maker and carnival judge, Daryl Phillip, says that in the interest of the country, he endorses the sensay recommendations. “We could make a sacrifice for a few years to keep Black Sigatoka under control. Sensay survived the ban between 1963 and 1999 and so long as we have it documented and it kept in mind there would not be a problem.”
What Banana dry leaf tink is this.Nasty stinky use sak mayule.
We should take the precaution folks.
The history of preparation in Dominica and the Windward Islands dates back to the 70’s. It was supposed to be a blessing that Dominica was the last to be affected of the significant banana producers the region. Frankly, what I see and hear about our response to the black Sigatoka challenge is both disappointing and sad. It would seem that we are in total oblivion to the experience and particularly the mistakes made by our neighbours in dealing with the problem. This Sensay ban seems a case of acting after horses have bolted out of the stable. Frankly, I believe that efforts and resources must be concentrated elsewhere if we are to deal with or current situation properly. Some suggestions:
1.The control programme needs to be adequately funded. The seriousness of the situation demands it especially if one gives seriously considers the economic and food security consequences
2.We need to vigorously continue farmer education on disease management
3.A suitable spray programme using a mixture of fungicides that will not only control the disease but prevent fungicide resistance is desperately needed
4.The spray programme should be complimented by a weather monitoring system that should inform the timing of spray applications.
5.The same legal instruments used by the ministry for eradicating citrus plants should be used to eradicate abandoned banana fields especially where they threaten productive farms.
6.The importation of disease resistant varieties of both banana and plantains must be expedited. These should be mandatory especially in hot spot areas where the microclimate is conducive to frequent disease flare-ups and around household where fungicide applications may not be feasible or economic.
I am sure the ministry’s technical team is aware of all the points highlighted above and more. My frustration comes from the fact that after two years of identifying the disease on the Island we are yet to have some of these crucial aspects of a credible management programme in place.
I thought the ban would be for safety reasons as a fire hazard. This should be added to it.
I thought the Sensay costume was banned for life. After what occurred in 1963?
I was quite young when I witnessed this fire which I call an inferno. If a few friends and I had gone in the band when they were coming down King George V Street to Great George Street, we could have been affected. We decided to wait when the band got nearer.
Fortunately we waited on the McIntyre’s balcony with other members of their family and friends and soon after we witnessed the situation. It was something else. I believe our Guardian Angel or God Himself inspired us to go there and protected us.
Three people I knew died from that inferno. I saw two of them that morning, one a neighbor, a friend and the other a good friend, Eddie Martin. I had spoken to him that morning. He had a camera and he took my picture. What a nice guy he was and to everyone! Occasionally I wonder what happened to the camera.
On the carnival Tuesday, I attended his funeral with a heavy heart and could not bring myself to watch his coffin which was in the form of a guitar. I shed many tears as did others.
He was called Eddie Guitar since he played the guitar so well. He was an expert, a gifted person.
This incident which placed Dominicans especially his family, other friends and associates in shock and grief is still vivid in my mind. Whenever carnival time rools around and takes place, it is a reminder of that dreadful time. Imagine that of their families who are still alive.
I would not recommend the Sensay costume. If I were in a carnival band and revelers wore this costume, I would stay far away from them. It should be banned forever. Surely they could make better, beautiful and safer costumes. Government/Health authorities, please consider it.
“rolls” around.
Strange things happen when I am typing on DNO’s Website which does not occur elsewhere that I access.
Someone’s server needs to be properly repaired or someone in the background is playing tricks with the words as typed. It is disappointing.
This error is not my doing from my keyboard. Unwanted words appear and other words disappear. It is something I have observed for a long time and have written about. My technician will confirm this one way or the other.
Dominicans really bad for true! even the red ants afraid of them.
Unfortunately there is no system to verify when these costumes might have been constructed so in the public interest a blanket ban seems to be the best option. For example there is also the other variant of exclusively wearing these costumes in the infected areas such as Salisbury, Portsmouth and Grand Bay, and never departing from these areas to join the street party elsewhere, but again that’s a major risk which we can’t afford to take..
So previous banana sensays are okay?
What about those which were created long before that disease was a factor? Should we not wear them?
@alex bruno,do you have any sensay costumes that were made before the outbreak,or you are just trying to be preposterous,this costumes are a danger to the people who wear them,a fire hazard,i thought even before i read story,that they was saying it’s easy to catch fire,this is how i have always viewed sensay costumes hear boss,i myself would not take a chance so with my life hear,does not matter,how much original and pretty it is,somebody can take a lighter and flame you up,that is the down side to it,so really the dried leaves,is a no no.
Forreal, Alex Bruno asked a simple and reasonable question why be so ignorant. This type of sensay has been used for years it’s traditional…Most of the fabrics used for ordinary clothing not to talk about weaves are highly flammable so what we should not wear clothes….I do get your point it’s your ignorance that’s uncalled for.
I do understand the reason for the advisory. Please excuse me, but I thought I was asking a sensible question. And no, I do not have a pay fig costume, but I know people who have them.
I also know what those costumes mean to the people. I believe that traditions must be preserved as much as possible, but if, for good reasons, it is better to deviate from such traditions, so be it. I submit to your better judgement.
Peace
Costume makers, please take not and co-operate. Enjoy your MAS.
Control? this all about talk to vindicate the government who does very very little to control black sigatoka. Everybody can attest that their farms ( including mines) which has been sprayed only twice in 2013. And there goes the coordinator always trying to blame farmers and running her mouth on “plenty” money that is spent … (utter rubbish)
So what are you saying? Your point is?? dismiss the warning and we should go ahead with the baanana sensay?!!!
I tend to agree with you….these people are not taking this disease seriously…if we do not control black sigatoka we will be just like St.vincent-No banana and plantain exports…Clearly these ‘highly educated ‘ people are just talking and passing blame on the poor farmers…When farmers deleaf and do all what is needed the have to wait 3-4 mths for spraying…what the hell do u think gonna happen…the fact is spraying should be done every 14-21 days which come to about 25-26 cycles are year we have had only 4 cycles in the past year…every time u call the office they crying there is no money to do this and that…but in parliament the foolish minister of Agriculture saying they have allocated how much millions and source all kinda fertilizer and oil and fungicides and right now there is NOTHING on island…yet the farmers get the blame…SMH