Queen of Queens, King of Kings with a billboard honouring the five founders of Statia Carnival.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Carnival nostalgia was on display at Statia Carnival’s First-Day Parade during which five troupes danced through the streets of Oranjestad on Saturday. This year marked the 55th anniversary of Carnival in St. Eustatius and the troupes paid tribute to this historical event.
These five troupes are Island Gems led by Daniela Richardson; Queen of Queens, King of Kings (QQKK) led by Alida Francis; Real Carnival Survivors headed by Jovita “Joan” Green-Windefelde; Tropical Fantasy of Shekima Brown; and Caribbean Tribes “captained” by Julissa Woodley and Sharday Bennett.
The parade started at Gwendoline van Putten School and concluded at F.D. Roosevelt Airport’s parking lot.
Spectators lined the streets to see the parade, some in vehicles or in tents and many with chairs and drinks at hand. Some even stood on walls to take pictures of the revellers passing by.
The parade hosted various floats on which this year’s Junior and Senior Carnival Queens, as well as various Senior Queens from years gone by, waved to the crowd.
Francis said her troupe comprised queens and kings who took part in pageantry competition during the past 55 years of Carnival in Statia.
“We came out for Carnival 55 to pay tribute to the founders of Statia Carnival and also to our African ancestry. In our costumes we use a lot of African authentic print which is embellished with a lot of glitters to bring the carnival feel to it,” she said.
The troupe had four different sections consisting of warriors, kings and queens. Throughout the troupe, Francis said, they incorporated artwork and artists’ impressions of persons who have contributed to Statia. The five founders of Statia Carnival were also honoured.
The troupe also highlighted other key persons who have made contributions to life in Statia, such as Miriam Smith, Ellis Lopes, Walton Schmidt, Marvin “Caps” Berkel and Paul Courtar. The troupe had hoped to include more icons, but due to the cost of Carnival, this could not be done.
Francis said this was the first time she has been back “on the road” in more than 20 years, heading a troupe which had 36 members taking part in the parades. In the past, she had a troupe called Queen of Queens, which took part in Carnival from 1997 until 1999, and won the troupe competition in 1999.
Other troupes also paid tribute to Statia Carnival 55, as well as to many Statia icons. Real Carnival Survivors honoured their deceased members Sybil Brown, Dario Schmidt and Berrica Ellis.
Royalty Organisation EUX also was present at the parades and gave out free TelCell bags and Statia Water, which is bottled on-island.
