Colourful carnival opening parade carded for Saturday

Carnival organizers are promising an infusion of colour into the opening parade for carnival 2010 carded for Saturday, January 23.

At a press conference to discuss the official opening of carnival this weekend, LIME Corporate Communications Executive Ferdina Frampton said the new bright colours will be in response to complaints about last year’s event.

“Last year I remember us getting some feedback in terms of the colour, the lack of colour, in the opening parade. People felt that LIME was black, they saw a lot of black and white t-shirts … so we are working with Alwyn and the Road Parade Committee … we’ll be using brighter coloured shirts this time around. So we’ll be using pink and yellow. You’ll certainly be seeing us in different colour shirts not the white that you saw last year,” Frampton said at a press conference this afternoon.

LIME is the headline sponsors of The Real Mas 2010. Their contribution is $250,000.

LIME company vehicles will be decorated more colourfully and professionally by Jennifer Fadelle, according to Frampton.

Thirty bikers will lead the parade slated for this Saturday at 3 p.m. Frampton guaranteed that the bikers will also be attired in bright “shocking colours”.

“It’s important that we listen to people and what they have to say and as a result you should be seeing a lot more colour on the road during the opening parade,” she noted.

Chairman of the Carnival Development Committee (CDC), Alwyn Bully, also promised a “fine” parade.

The parade will begin on Victoria Street, where DBS Radio is located, and move in a northerly direction along the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard, popularly known as the Bayfront. Then, participants will take a right turn along Kennedy Avenue where the building formerly Emens was located, and advance to Great George Street where it will take a left turn across the West Bridge.

“Immediately after the bridge take a left turn which will lead into Elliot Avenue along the sea…heading north towards the Pottersville Savannah, and arriving there on the grounds of the savannah approximately two hours after it begins. It will begin at 3 o’clock … so we’re expecting the front of the parade to take about two hours to get to the venue. We know it’s a route that’s usually very crowded and we’ll like to ensure the entire parade is seen by spectators. So we will take our time; we’ll allow the music to sink in, allow people to enjoy the parade in all its beauty and variety,” Bully explained.

There will be several groups of traditional mas including the Gutter La Peau Kabwit, Sakis, Neg Mawons, Kabouway groups, Afrikulture Walkers – a group of some 40 bwa bwa walkers, St Joseph Sensay, Good Hope Darkies and Montine La Peau Kabwit.

A new band, Exotica, will be featured along with Teamwork Spirit, the Religious Ones, National Bank of Dominica Flag wavers, Carnival Corner, Pottersville Sports Academy, a Kalinago group, and the 2010 carnival queen contestants on their individual floats.

Abraham Sounds, Starlin Sounds, Arden Sounds, Black Widow Sounds, and Xcess Groove will provide live entertainment on the road to Carnival City.

Meanwhile, the DFC is awaiting confirmation from other groups including the Colihaut Band Mauve, 4-H and others who indicated their interest in participating in this year’s carnival opening.

“Apart from those I’ve mentioned, I think it’s gonna be a really a good size parade with the right kind of feeling to it and the right amount of colour, movement and celebration,” Bully added.

The official opening ceremony is expected to begin at 6:30 p.m. with addresses from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Tourism Minister Ian Douglas, Mayor of Roseau Cecil Joseph, and other officials.

DFC Events Director Val Cuffy called for a prompt start to the event so as not to disturb a church service which will be taking place nearby.

“Last year we had a situation where the church service starts at 6 and ends at 7, and in light of the fact that we’re predominantly a Catholic community we have to respect the office of the church … we hoping that at 6:30 we could start the official function with the speeches, which will not be that very loud. And then by 7 o’clock, when the church is over, we will start with our presentation of the other aspects of the programmes,” he explained.