St Philip ready for carnival

The Bayfield Boyz held a small motorcade to promote the band. Here, they are about to hit the road. (Pictures by Sharon Harding)

The five members of the St Philip Carnival Committee: (from left) chairperson Hallam Gittens, Marva Lashley, Orlando Rouse, Richard King and Chesterfield Haynes in the midst of planning.

By Carlos Atwell | Wed, January 18, 2012 - 10:34 AM

The St Philip Carnival is back and will be better than ever, said committee chairperson Hallam Gittens.

After a two-year hiatus, there will actually be two carnivals this year, said Gittens, one on Saturday, Errol Barrow Day, and the other on Independence Day.

“The last carnival was in 2009 so we will be using this as an opportunity to come up with fresh ideas and bring new faces to the carnival.”

Gittens, speaking last Saturday after the launch of the St Philip Carnival in King George V Memorial Park, St Philip, said the first carnival would be used as a precursor to the main carnival later in the year.

“We have not staged a carnival in two years but based on requests, we decided to bring it back. Because of this short notice, most of our regular bands are not in a position to take part.

“We will have five bands for the first carnival and three of them are new. This time around, [there] will be entertainment in the park afterwards and we will be taking security extremely seriously,” he said.

Along with improving security, Gittens said the St Philip Carnival Committee was also making a concerted effort to raise the profile of the carnival in the eyes of the public.

“Our aim is to continue the process of making this carnival a national one, where it can be seen as a Barbadian [event] and a tourism product.

This year will see St Philip bringing a band to Foreday Morning Jam, [forming] alliances with tourism stakeholders and building relationships with the National Cultural Foundation and the Ministry of Culture,” he said.

Zero HIV/AIDS Infections, Zero Discrimination is the theme of this year’s carnival, which is partnering with the HIV/AIDS Commission and Digicel.

The five participating bands are the Legendz Boyz, Reenie’s and newcomers Bayfield Boyz, Juice Spot and Eastsiders.

The route is as follows: Culpepper Development, Marley Vale, East Point, Lyder’s Hill, Merricks, Wellhouse, Eastbourne, Long Bay, Ruby and King George V Memorial Park.

Gittens said this year’s carnival was also in remembrance of late Prime Minister David Thompson, who he said was an honorary member of the carnival with the Families First band.

He said Thompson’s death was the reason for the hiatus in the first place and he would be greatly missed.