IT is very apparent that there is tug-of-war going on when it comes to our Carnival celebrations and our festivals. But, just like in politics, we should never cater for only one segment of our society because in doing so we leave one segment dissatisfied and discontented.
Not too long ago, we acknowledged the genius of Caribbean creativity especially in our Carnival. But now, there seems to be a movement to change all these creative inputs by discarding the efforts of these past geniuses.
Take, for instance, the advent of steel pan, acknowledged to be a true modern-day discovery of this century. It’s creatively and musically truly a Caribbean statement, but these days it’s totally overlooked and overshadowed during our festivity.
The positive is that many a young person has embraced the playing of pan as a choice instrument. But all of their efforts seem to be for one day, only one moment in time, to express their creativity and talent.
Out of a year that has 365 days, it boils down to panorama! My questions: Why can the steel bands not be used as the back-up music for at least kiddies Carnival? Why can’t all the school musicians, as well as those from the School of Music do like the French carnival bands and make their music come alive at carnival? Must our music always be blaring and deafening? Is it not good enough to satisfy the revelers?
Maybe the time has come to introduce Sunday as a Carnival Day since we already have Sunday night activity. It could be used to highlight, indigenous and traditional highlights of our Carnival, It would also give creative minds a chance to showcase their works, so we would see and hear brass and drum bands, steel bands, old-fashion Ole Mass — and no panty and bra portrayals. That way, that segment can feel included and contented that they too have a means to express themselves creatively.
I am sure that the general public will not mind the extra festivity, considering that Sunday is already considered to be a holy holiday and will not affect the commercial sector from a business point of view.
The venders will also be glad to take advantage of the extra activity, because we never seem to have enough of anything. If such is the new thinking, then Monday Morning can be retained for the new-age mud, powder and paint, j’ouvert and jump-up, coupled with all the scandalous behaviour tailored for hi-fi lovers — the usual portrayals on the Mondays and Tuesdays for the modern-day revelry.
Millions are allocated for Carnival, but it seems most of that money goes into the hands of providers and suppliers of the necessary infrastructure.
I would think it is time to have a park set aside for festivals of all sorts. Call it Festival Park if you may, but at least the state can profit from its rental at various times in the year and the money can be used more wisely to establish Mas Camps that build their own costumes, furbish steel bands with racks, have workshops in costume building, teach this generation how to build costumes, give the calypsonians more cash to develop their tents, give cash incentives to schools that want to participate in Carnival, help the community carnivals grow — and so forth.
All this pre buying of ready-made costumes only makes some people rich, but does not enhance our carnival. Mind you, I have nothing against the new generation who are attracted to the panty-and-bra carnival, but not all of us see it as the only way to go to develop our culture.
And as for the pan men and women, they can feature themselves in concert and give their players the full experience of becoming extraordinary pan players if the state creates the outlet and opportunities.
In this competitive world of Technology, Banking,Finance, Medicine. Engineering
and so on, what is there to learn about the abundance of Carnival and festivals every
day and even on Sundays, on a people so backward already in many forms of Education.
To raise a child to learn to dance half naked on Sundays instead of attending some Church
service, singing the praises of the Almighty, is a recipe for further blight, ignorance and poverty.
The chaos i envisaged while growing up in St. Lucia scared the hell out of me, so I had to leave
so as to do something about it. I would never let the abundance of reveling mess me up, but today
we see some are advocating more and more of the same even on a day of rest. God help St. Lucia.
To replace the DJ powered music with steelbands or live brass bands would be a wonderful idea.
But certainly, not on a Sunday.