(Trinidad Guardian) – Not even dark skies and intermittent showers could damper the spirits and waistlines of thousands of masqueraders who went out on Tuesday to celebrate Carnival.
Scores of anxious spectators, who opted to take in the sights at Adam Smith Square, Port-of-Spain, seemed to have heeded the warnings of the weatherman and came prepared with their umbrellas. Some were even armed with raincoats to shield themselves from the downpour, which would, on any other day, send many of them scampering for shelter.
For the men in attendance, the chance to gaze at thousands of beautiful women, leaving little or nothing to the imagination in skimpy “costumes,” as perhaps sufficient to explain their refusal to give in to the weather. Former Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee and Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald were also present at the square to take in the sights of Carnival.
The parade of the bands got under way from as early as 9 am, with a fusion of colour, rhythm and excitement. A crowd-pleaser was Brian Mc Farlane’s Carnival 2009 presentation, ‘Africa–Her People, Her Glory, Her Tears’. The 2008 Band of the Year designer came good again this Carnival, with a beautiful display of earthly colours and tones, which aptly depicted the theme.
Mas band, Harts Ltd, created a stir with its bevy of beautiful women, especially queen of the band, former Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam.
The large band’s presentation this year was titled ‘Persian Empire’. Four Swedish nationals could not hide their excitement, when a woman from the band, wearing a thong, showed them some Trini hospitality, giving each of them a small “wine.” Two Trinidadian men, who were standing close by, were out of luck though, as she ignored their pleas to give them a dose as well.
