Dear Editor,
What a brilliant and commendable move by SCDF’s President Alston Lourens, to include the public in their planning of next year’s Jubilee celebration! The gesture reflects not just maturity, but the vision to rekindle that spirit of cooperation. This giant step to bridge the gap between the public and an organization that seemed entirely private, will definitely yield a dynamic production.
To begin: the unwillingness of schools to participate in this cultural manifestation can be remedied if the committee pursues the matter from a different angle. Why not invest a portion of its promotional monies into the junior parade? In other words, offer financial support to these troupe leaders, so they can enhance the children’s parade by adding more sections; thus improving their creativity and extending the length of the parade.
Some serious consideration should be given to reducing the type of lyrical content that promotes sexual behaviours, but especially during the children’s parade and activities that are designed for them. In this period, SCDF should ensure that musicians adhere to the criteria and maintain that high level of decency, throughout the duration of the festivity.
It would be a joy if part of the criteria for street jump-ups, including j’ouvert, consists of strictly local music; with a strong emphasis on road marches and popular tunes from yester-years. And that next year’s road march will be one that captivates the population’s attention.
Encourage the revival of bands like Rolling Tones and Impack that usually wow the crowd with the sweet pulsing sounds of their instruments, but especially the brass section. There has been a lack of variety in bands over the years. Even these seasoned musicians are complaining that the younger ones are not playing the instruments and there is no significant purpose behind their production.
Compile interviews on how carnival started and sell the DVDs or MP3s, to locals and tourists, as a means of generating income for the following year. This initiative can be an advertising tool, to decrease the burden of depending on government. In the same breath, put together a documentary on the queens and kings. The information can be used as a source of reference for discussions and further developments.
Set up a museum-styled area upstairs in The Village to host photographs of all the kings, queens, troupe leaders, bands, booth holders and SCDF’s presidents. A small entrance fee can be charged for locals during the heat of carnival. Children can do school projects for Black History Month and beyond. Perhaps magazines can be printed as well. Here is where The Village must be returned to the people, so that the committee can use this venue as an added attraction for tourists, to generate more advertising monies for carnival.
Adorn the Pondfill Road and Soualiga Boulevard with lighted posters of all the carnival kings and queens. What pleasure it would be to see a section of the adult parade designated for all the string bands from both sides of the island. Booth holders should receive 50 per cent discount for playing such a significant role over the years. Please, no cars in the parade. It just breaks the momentum of the cultural activity.
Create a platform to interview children and adults of various ages and backgrounds, to get their feelings on how they see carnival and use the material as a measuring tool to improve on this cultural manifestation.
A personal invitation and an award to the cultural troupe from Guadeloupe is a must. It’s such an admiration to listen to the sounds of the drums and watch their spirits collide to create that indescribable harmony.
It’s the people’s occasion to benefit from the biggest cultural activity; therefore, next year’s carnival should be strictly local, a festivity bursting with home-grown creativity.
Joslyn Morton
