Crime hits Carnival
Having a good time at a carnival fete
When Carnival was launched last month, there was a very small audience at Woodford Square. Many calypso tents are reporting dwindling crowds.
What is the impact of crime on this year’s carnival season?
This is the question many people are asking with the pan fraternity still somewhat in shock at the decision by WITCO Desperadoes to move from their shrine in the Laventille Hills and relocate to Cadiz Road, Belmont.
The band did it for security reasons: there have been reports of gun-toting youths chasing one another through the panyard at Desperlie Crescent and, naturally, such behaviour have scared off a lot of players.
It has also made it difficult for the band to recruit new pan musicians forcing it to flee its impressive pan theatre for a less-than-adequate makeshift facility in a “neutral zone”, .directly opposite the Queen’s Park Savannah.
The new panyard did not bring the band any luck: Despers placed fifth in last Sunday’s National Panorama semi-finals tying with Caribbean Airlines Invaders, although it gave a roof raising performance, playing its tune of choice, Musical Magnum.
Patrons to calypso tents and other night-time pre-Carnival activities reports that audiences are smaller and anyone doubting this would have seen the evidence when carnival was launched on January 15.
Usually, any event held in the city square, dubbed “The People’s Parliament”, would attract a crowd, especially on a Friday evening. Sadly for the calypsonians belting out their songs from the band stand, there was not much of an audience. Passers-by seemed more interested in getting home before dark.
Before the sun had set, the calypsonians were singing bravely to an audience of eight equally brave well-wishers.
The police have new anti-crime measures in the pipeline. It will be interesting to see what develops in the next few days.