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The mas after de mas
Posted: Monday, March 11, 2002

By Peter Ray Blood

Since the first disclosure of the Carnival 2002 Band of the Year results, de Fosto's calypso "The Mecca of What?" continues to play havoc in my head.

This is reinforced because, while a disillusioned few continue to boast of T&T being the mecca of mas, kaiso and pan, the rest of the world is having laughing fits at our expense.

Aquamarine
Parading as "Aquamarine," Funtasia king Sieusankar Maraj failed to gain a place among the finalists in this year's controversial King of Carnival competition. This fantasy costume, designed by Keith McLean, is in the fantasy category and depicts ancient mariners' fear of waterspouts at sea.

As I write this, I understand a group of disgruntled mas bandleaders and masqueraders is planning to seek legal redress against what they have described as discriminatory decisions made against them this Carnival.

While Peter Minshall, Todd Gulick and the Callaloo Company have thrown up their arms in disgust, saying "to hell with it," Legends' "Big Mike" Antoine and Ian McKenzie intend raising hell in court over the decision to retain Barbarossa as Band of the Year.

But other Carnival artists and artisans are angrily talking as well, and among the most vociferous is Funtasia designer/Mas Factory boss Keith McLean. The popular artist is calling for the immediate resignation of Richard Afong, head of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA), and the entire executive committee.

Claiming Funtasia's king and queen were "victimised" in the King and Queen of Carnival competitions, "because of perceived political affiliation by the band's founders to the UNC," McLean emphasised he has no leaning to any particular political party.

He said: "I am an artist, not a politician. I am very angry that my creativity and work should be judged as something political."

Besides calling for the mass resignation of the NCBA executive, McLean is suggesting a complete overhaul of the judging process.

He said if the NCC or NCBA doesn't have the money to purchase the necessary technology, he will buy it out of his pocket and make it available to the judges.

The technology McLean is referring to is a digital display, erected at competition sites, of points awarded to kings, queens, individuals and bands immediately after they've crossed a competition stage.

Also emphasising designer Wayne Berkeley is his "guru," and he was a "student" of the celebrated artist, McLean exclaimed: "There is no way that Minshall's Picoplat could have been beaten in this year's Band of the Year competition.

"Picoplat was the only band that portrayed its theme, and it was the most uniquely designed and presented band on stage.

"I am not taking anything from Wayne (Berkeley), Big Mike, Ian or Barbarossa, but as an artist, I know that Picoplat captured all the elements of a complete Carnival band: design, choice and use of fabric, colour, glitz and movement.

Oriental Bubble Blower
Hailed by many as one of the prettiest costumes in this year's Queen of Carnival competition, Leslie Ann Boiselle's "Oriental Bubble Blower" was left out of the Dimanche Gras final. Designer Keith McLean was inspired to create this costume based on an oriental circus where smoke is blown into bubbles, a secret only orientals are believed to know.

"There is no way a bikini band could beat a presentation like Picoplat. Any judge who knows mas would have to agree with that. I can only believe that Picoplat was not given the title because of politics or favouritism."

McLean, claiming he has been exposed to mas "since the glory days of George Bailey," added: "The whole world is laughing at us, because of a few selfish men."

Referring to the scuttled King and Queen of Carnival preliminaries, McLean said: "Trinidad and Tobago is the only place in the world that I know had a cultural competition that was squashed after it was held.

"The same rules broken at the preliminary were again broken at the final, and the same masquerader at the centre of the bacchanal was crowned King of Carnival."

McLean said if the NCBA does not clean up its act and fix its judging problems, Carnival 2003 would be short of one designer.

Convent girls have some fun

With the madness of Carnival behind us, past students of Holy Name Convent have decided upon a plan to renew old acquaintances.

Next Saturday, the Convent's Past Pupils' Association will host a reunion luncheon at Crowne Plaza, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, with an open invitation to all old girls.

At the luncheon the alumnae will elect a new executive, with the mandate of leading the association into a new era, as well as to create an up-to-date database of graduates.

The revival of the association also forms part of the activities planned by the Convent to commemorate its centenary year.

Holy Name has produced a number of prominent citizens and among those I recall are Guardian director Lynette Seebaran Suite, Denyse Plummer, Deborah Jean-Baptiste-Samuel, Thais Hart, Lisa Wickham-Branche and Radio 97's Celia Scott.

All past students are invited to attend, whether or not they've received a notice.

Call Dawn or Paula at 633-3320 for details and to make advance bookings.


School's out for The College

THIS week, yet another popular venue for R&R had its doors closed. The College, a favourite watering hole on the Western Main Road in St James, served its last customers on Sunday night.

Pulse learned that after 23 years, College operator "Hio" Rivas had no option but to close this "institution" as the rent was raised by his landlord.

Pulse was also informed that Hio is planning to remain in the pub business by opening on Independence Square, downstairs Peking Restaurant. With the closure of The College, it's now up to Smokey & Bunty, 67, Universal and Cheers to pick up the slack along this bustling thoroughfare, running through the town that never sleeps.



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