Saint Lucia carnival back on track!

Saint Lucia’s carnival was put on hold at the announcement on May 19 of general elections here, held weeks later on June 6. Most of the large bands scheduled to participate in the parade of bands on July 18 and 19 had already been launched, churning up excitement among revellers and the general public. However, the pending elections, marked by concerted campaigning and rallies across the island, caused many to postpone events leading up to carnival.

Last Friday June 3 saw the staging of the national schools calypso competition. And despite a great showing by students, the event got little media attention, eclipsed by the run-up to the general elections.

Elections out of the way, Saint Lucia’s carnival director Teddy Francis says his agency is all set to assist in the production of a massive carnival season.

This weekend two of the Calypso tents will aim to woo audiences to the National Cultural Centre. South Calypso Tent was on show last night while Ambassadors is on tonight, Saturday June 11.

Next week will see a collaboration between the Take Over Tent and Soca Village as well as another showing by De Socalypso Review Tent.

A number of carnival fetes will unfold in the coming weeks, among them the Red Unlimited Bikini Affair. The event, which was originally scheduled for Sunday June 5, will now be held on Sunday June 19 at Pigeon Island.

Just4Fun’s annual Cooler Fete is another major activity this month. It will be held at the Gaiety Car Park, Rodney Bay.

Come July a number of carnival competitions will liven the scene including the Power and Groovy Soca Monarch preliminaries on July 1, the National Carnival Queen Pageant on July 2, the Calypso semi-finals on July 3, Junior Carnival on July 10, Panorama on July 15, the Calypso finals on July 16 and the Power and Groovy Soca Monarch finals on July 17.

This will be followed by J’ouvert and then Carnival on Monday July 18 and Tuesday July 19.