G.Islet Carnival This Weekend

ORGANIZERS of this year’s Gros Islet Carnival are urging Saint Lucians to include the event in their itinerary during the long holiday weekend.

Neil Verdant, Public Relations Officer for the Gros Islet Cultural Development Foundation, says that despite a few earlier hitches in planning the event, the usual fun atmosphere is expected to permeate this weekend’s event.

The J’Ouvert celebrations got underway from 4:00 a.m. today and the Kiddies Carnival will be held from 2:00 p.m. tomorrow and will feature nearly a hundred youngsters portraying their costumes.

The main event, Carnival Cool Down, geared towards the adult revelers, will take place on Monday (Emancipation Day), beginning at 2:00 p.m., and will feature tee shirt bands.

All events will be held in Gros Islet town.

Verdant said this year’s preparations were last-minute because the previous council was dissolved recently, and no structure was in place to receive the funding. Also, there was no development committee momentarily to plan the activities.

Over the past three weeks, however, plans were put in place to ensure that Gros Islet Carnival does take place, including being able to attract traditional sponsors, Digicel and Bounty Rum.

Verdant said the committee now in place seeks to reflect representatives from various communities in the Gros Islet constituency. As such, he is appealing to constituents – and Saint Lucians, in general, to come out and support this weekend’s events.

Future plans for the committee, Verdant said, include hosting a soca monarch competition and Gros Islet Carnival Queen Pageant.

Tickets for Monday’s Carnival Cool Down are $30 each. For more infomation on packages, contact Verdant at 718 1233 or Assistant PRO, Minerva Biscette at 520 9078.

“We’re really looking forward to especially people from the community coming out to support us,” Verdant said. “It’s not just a carnival for us, but more of a coming together where the young and old can enjoy a peaceful vibe.”