Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan wants the Central business community to invest more in arts and culture.
He was speaking at the Chaguanas Carnival Committee prize-giving function for this year’s celebrations on Sunday at the Chaguanas Borough auditorium at Cumberbatch Street.
Boodhan said despite hard economic times the business community should inject capital where it was needed to ensure cultural growth takes place and there was no stagnation.
He said through culture, arts and sports young people could attain more and contribute positively to the development of their community. On this note, Boodhan said the Chaguanas Borough would be paying special tribute to the successful T&T players on both the men’s and women’s T-20 squad. He said the cricketers would serve as positive role models for the borough’s youths. He said this event would be done in conjunction with the T&T cricket board.
Boodhan said now that the Continuous Assessment Component (CAC) of the SEA exams had been scrapped he would like to see more youths get involved in arts and culture. Boodhan said the junior calypso competition for Carnival 2016 had suffered a lack of participation because many students were wrapped up in doing assignments for exams.
The mayor said that the borough would have a mid-year consultation with bandleaders and schools to suggest the way forward for next year’s events. Boodhan said Carnival 2016 was a success as more bands participated than last year. He said the play park erected for children also proved to be a success in making the event a family-oriented one.
Boodhan said the goal was to increase greater local participation in Carnival events in the borough. He said in the past years J’Ouvert celebrations had been growing. He said that was a positive sign that more people were being attracted to regional Carnival. Boodhan said the traditional mas celebrations, introduced for the first time this year, were also successful. He said this move would assist in the growth of traditional mas characters.
Carnival Committee chairman Ronald Heera said the committee had to maximise and use a reduced budget for this year’s celebrations. Heera also praised committee member Vashty Persad who coordinated the Carnival Queen Show. Heera said the pageant was entirely sponsored by the private sector.
Winner’s row
The Band of the Year title went to Chase Village Carnival for its presentation of Not So Traditional.
The Traditional Band of the Year went to Traditional Warriors from the band The Original Jab Jab.
The J’Ouvert Band of the Year went to Junabo’s Blu Hawaii, a presentation of Philip Jordan.
The Kiddies Band of the Year went to the 50th Anniversary House of Jacqui by band leader Jacqui Koon How.
Kyla Rigsby won the Calypso Monarch competition.
Special awards went to Ivan Ryce and Ali Rahaman. This duo have been playing midnight robbers since the 1950s.