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pop up bar lady



We always hear the garbage truck before we actually see it. Brakes hissing, the compactor compacting, noisy engine. As I heard it I go outside to see if there are any bags to put out and approaching our gate the collection guy walks up saying " morning, nutten today, is alright we coming back Friday'. It is these simple daily exchanges that proves that all is not lost. It is the greeting by the lady in the pop up bar on the corner of Carlos St and the Avenue, 'aye is ah whole year ah eh see you, same ting'. And throughout the two day bacchanal one would experience kindness and Trini's being exactly that, Trini's. So why do we then have the ugly side?

We enjoyed our Carnival days. We are in a routine that works well for us, nothing to drain us and cause us not to enjoy all of it. I play Jouvert with the same steelband every year seeing the same people, probably with the same old talk. We are all aging at the same time so it makes no difference. Then comes the Monday mas with the only live music on the road, again a crowd reflecting the masqueraders of Minshall and Berkely. Tuesday is a day of rest so we leave to go and see 'Cat in Bag Productions' assemble, all twenty of them, and then we look at mas, lime, look at mas, lime again and then again and at the appropriate hour we depart the noise and confusion and head for home having had a great time. Our children are all mas people who obviously do not follow our regime and do the things that their own grouping loves. And so the mas evolves, as do the music and the actual arrangements on the day.

Today's Carnival involves:

  •  buying costumes on line,
  •  cooler parties,
  •  concerts, 
  • all inclusive parties where the points system is more on the food than the fete,
  • 2.00AM makeup appointments,
  •  'six pack' body art, 
  • music trucks for every hundred masqueraders, 
  • air conditioned 'wee wee' trucks,
  • air conditioned lounge trucks, 
  • food trucks, 
  • bar trucks, 
  • elevated viewing platform trucks, 
  • cool down air conditioned maxis, 
  • a trail of private vehicles for those wanting privacy, 
  • water misting cool down trucks, 
  • water trucks, 
  • ambulance

I must say looking at the bands going by I can honestly say that the Carnival has evolved but in a very elitist way which brings us 360 dg to the truck mas around the Savannah in the early 1900's. I have no problem with creature comforts, especially rest room facilities, but it has gone in a direction that does not augur well for Carnival's sustainability. Seeing the 'God' mas moving through the streets with a simple mobile pan trailer and a drumming section was a pleasure. People played their mas.

The comments about nakedness and other unacceptable public behaviour will always be with us. Remember we are the only tropical country that bans short pants in a Government office. So what of the various masqueraders wearing basically nothing? Considering that they represent about ten persons in tens of thousands does not make it a new trend. I am pretty sure they are making up for the ridiculous 'no noodle strap' dress codes for public offices. I would think that there are a host of issues to deal with in making our Carnival better than noodle straps placed in certain places.

The big news coming out over the Carnival weekend was the credible threat of a terror attack. I spoke with a number of people over the weekend, persons well connected, who say that it was a real threat.  I have a stupid habit of trying to make sense out of nonsense. So, we are under a terror threat, still unknown as to what it actually might be, bombings, vehicles crashing into crowds, mass stabbings or shootings etc. Walking around the city I looked at the security arrangements at many of the venues and could not identify a single area that looked as though there was enhanced security. For instance, non Carnival related vehicles were being allowed along the parade route. In the Thanksgiving Macy in NYC the parade the route was blocked off with garbage trucks preventing non authorised vehicles to enter the space. We have a terror alert and that's it, we create panic and concern and then do what?

I started off with a garbage truck story and somehow ended with garbage. Maybe this is a sign!

People of the rock, the Carnival is a wonderful time, people expressing themselves, the creativity, the music, the entire Carnival economy, evolution. It is something that we need to keep but we must also be aware that we could lose it if we are not careful. I am sure the answers are all there, we need to ensure that the self interest is dealt with.

I hope my 'pop up bar lady' remembers me next year!

Keep cool, good night and good luck!

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