I armed myself with sunscreen and a cap against the midday sun. National Junior Carnival, better known as Kiddies Carnival, was set to start at 12:30pm from Derek Walcott Square. I followed a woman holding a child who had on a fluffy pink tutu sprinkled with roses, as she walked to join hundreds of other costumed children under the shelter of a massive tent in the square.
A half hour passed as I stood in the shade of the locally famous “Masav tree”. Then action got underway. The Nous Wivay Junior Carnival Band was first to step out in their miniature madras pieces. The rest of the carnival tailed them in a splendid array of colours. The parade included toddlers and pre-teens. The youngest reveller had not yet learned to walk. By Events Company of Saint Lucia’s count, “approximately 600” children participated.
I started taking pictures while adults were still bumping children into formation. They did their best to be heard above the over-amplified speakers mounted on trucks. The kids were encouraged to jump, march and dance to the blaring music. The younger ones I encountered were far more interested in getting their hands on some water or juice. The older ones, their sweating faces all glittered up, appeared miserable.
Finally the parade started moving at a snail’s pace toward The Sab, in Vigie, normally about a twenty-minute or so walk. I asked one mother whether she took her child to Kiddies Carnival every year. She obviously was proud to let me know she did because, to her, the kiddies’ carnival was a fun experience for the participants, an opportunity to learn about our culture. If she was correct about the lesson to be learned, the faces around her registered torture, not fun.
As the parade moved, the DJs pleaded with the parents to stay on the sidelines and allow their children to enjoy themselves. Alas, many of the children clung to their parents, or screamed in protest at efforts to join the band.
Thankfully there were no exposed gyrating derrieres, no alcohol and no grinding into the closest groin. Instead of thongs that encouraged the worst thoughts, and overflowing beaded bras, the children wore outfits made of cheap satin, Spandex, layers of tulle, and other non-breathable opaque fabrics.
I do not doubt for a minute that Kiddies Carnival may well have its positive aspects. But why must it take place in conceivably the hottest spot in the city at the hottest time of year? Why must it involve so much walking? Couldn’t the event have started with a parade around the Vigie playing field and ended on stage?
Understandably I had a difficult time getting the children to smile for my camera. For what its worth, Gros Islet Junior Carnival Band, portraying “Something Fishy”, emerged as Junior Band of the Year, followed by Nous Wivay, Xtatic Kids and Royalties Extreme. The winning Junior Queen of the Band is Daniella Theophilus of Xtatic Kids. Shaz Nathan Lucien of Gros Islet was chosen Junior King of the Bands.
