Until Next Time, Carnival!

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he most anticipated event on the Saint Lucian calendar has come and gone, but we all know better than to think the party season is over. For months, various local carnival bands had been preparing for the big event, and on Tuesday, after much bacchanalia in the streets, the curtains were drawn.

The Events Company of Saint Lucia has since announced the results for Carnival 2017, on Wednesday, July 19 to be exact, at the Cultural Development Foundation. After all the hard work of artists, designers, organizers and revelers in mas camps and behind the scenes, only one band could win each title.

There’s assurance of no hard feelings though; every band was whining down the road to Ricky T’s “Sully” together, which won Road March. Mac 11 with “Bend Up Your Back” came in second followed by Subance’s “Bad in Bum Bum” then “Knock It Already” by Ambi. The ultimate Mas On the Move winner was none other than Just 4 Fun, who impressed the judges when it was their turn to flaunt their feathers and beads on stage. Not too far behind was Fuzion Mas, and then a surprise tie for third place between Taboo and Tribe of Twel. However, the Band of the Year was Tribe of Twel (Wi Mama Mi Matlo). Second place went to Just 4 Fun (Escape), while the third and fourth place spots went to Royalites Extreme (Sunrise to Sunset) and Fuzion Mas (Greatness in the Sands) respectively. These four bands came in the exact same ranking for the Best Portrayal of Theme category.

Again, these four bands got the top rankings for Section of the Year but in a different order. Royalites Extreme “Showtime” came in first, and then in second was Tribe of Twel’s “Sailors & Ladies Who They Love”. Third place went to Taboo’s “Captain America & Mystic” and in fourth, Fuzion Mas’ “Anubis”. Notably, it was Fuzion Mas’ first time on the road.

By far one of the most interesting parts of Saint Lucian Carnival is Ole Mas. This year the top four creations all depicted various aspects of the island’s political landscape. Robert Caleron won with “St. Lucia National Trust, Allen No More” followed by Arthur Charles who created “DSH – Government Fishing for Investment Master Baiters”. Third place was given to Carton Ishmael with ‘Trump Under Pressure to Come Clean with Russian Ties” and fourth to Kingsley Haynes with “Vieux Fort No More, it’s Pearl of the South. Are You From the Pearl? I Am.”

This year’s Individual of the Year was Tribe of Twel’s “Poseidon, Lord of the Deep” by Adrian Augier while the winner of J’ouvert was Back in Time with “Music: The Life of the Party”.