How can masqueraders expect free movement for Carnival if the parade route remained the same? That was the question put forward by National Carnival Bandleaders Association (NCBA) president David Lopez as he commented on the recently-announced official parade route for Carnival 2015. National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Lorraine Pouchet made the announcement last Wednesday.
Lopez, who has spoken out repeatedly in the past few years calling for changes in the routes from expansion to route reversals, did not seem very happy with the route. He said, however, the NCBA was willing to do all in its ability to support the NCC to ensure a smooth and congestion-free Carnival 2015 next month. Lopez said Carnival organisations and bands had a responsibility to masqueraders to ensure that Carnival activities had few problems.
“Bandleaders are their own problems, Lopez said. “The only institution that rejects change is the cemetery.” “It is the same route but with bigger trucks, more vendors and criss-crossing bands on the roads. Lopez said the NCBA had asked for an extension of the route into St James to make the parade longer but the police had said they did not have enough manpower to properly secure the route.
“It is strange, though, that they seem to have the strength to manage Socadrome.” We will support the NCC because we in the NCBA want the route to work and we will do anything in our power to ensure we have a healthy Carnival.” While Lopez’ main complaint was that the route had not changed, it was praised by two other mas organisations, the T&T Carnival Bandleaders Association (TTCBA) and the National carnival development Foundation (NCDF).
At a press conference on Thursday, NCDF chairman Mahindra Satram-Maharaj, seemed a bit unsure about the Carnival announcements. Nevertheless, he stood in support of the NCC’s decisions on the route, including the decision to allow bands to remain in the competition as long as they crossed at least three judging points, giving them the option to skip the Piccadilly greens. He said the success of the route was dependent on effective management by security forces.
“We are of the view that we will see a full improvement in management of the route,” Satram-Maharaj said. He said this would happen once NCC implemented the organisation’s recommendations. TTCBA president Gerard Weekes also supported the NCC’s route. In a news release Weekes thanked the NCC for maintaining the traditional senior route “especially in the face of proposals by NCBA to reverse it once again.”
“We are also pleased that the Junior route has been returned to its original format as this takes a great deal of stress off the shoulders of the very young masqueraders,” Weekes said.