Models showing off costume designs.By Justin Whyte,
Entertainment Editor
ROWLAND NOEL is the man with the Carnival savvy who is busy planning for the staging of the event downtown Kingston.
According to Mr. Noel, the Downtown Carnival activities have been conceptualised to unravel in two separate stages.
"The first involves the setting up of a mas camp, where fetes are being held on a weekly basis and the other the culmination of activities on Carnival Monday (Easter Monday April 16," he said.
He said the organisation of Downtown Carnival was done with several objectives in mind.
"It will assist in keeping the peace, which is always fragile. At the moment that peace seems on the verge of disappearing. It will also help to encourage another type of wholesome entertainment.
"It was organised too to bring the sounds and colour usually synonymous with the uptown celebrations to the people of the inner city," he said.
Mr. Noel, who led the Ayoka Revellers as part of Jamaica Carnival for over six years, feels the time has come to spread the joy and excitement to the inner-city communities.
"The people of the inner city have been marginalised in terms of their exposure and opportunities to participate fully in Carnival. As a consequent, it is seen as uptown thing", he said.
Leonie Smith, assistant manager of Burger King, Harbour Street Branch, agreed.
"Downtown people are getting into the Carnival thing, it's not just dancehall or reggae for them anymore. I don't believe it's an uptown vs downtown thing anymore. You might not see them in costumes, because of financial constraints, but they are at Carnival Road Parade nevertheless," she said.
Like the other established carnival entities a mas camp is located at Unity Lawn (corner of Beeston and King Streets), courtesy of Donald 'Zekes' Phipps.
Friday evening lymes are held at that venue along with a dance aerobics session and on Saturdays talent shows are staged there.
According to Mr. Noel, the emphasis of Downtown Carnival this year is on 'Pretty Mas', which he claims is the soul of Carnival festivities.
The downtown activities have been supported by Byron Lee, founder director of Jamaica Carnival 2001, who said:
"We have been successful over the years in establishing successful blowout fetes which have been embraced by the people. J'Ouvert has also taken off rapidly. But, we are still in the process of promoting and selling 'Pretty Mas' as a spectacle where Jamaicans from uptown or downtown get out into the streets and play mas", Lee said.
Organisers of the Downtown Carnival have set out to create beautiful, affordable costumes under the guidance of Oneil Smith.
"The costume designs are patterned after those constructed in Trinidad and Tobago skimpy, but pretty," Mr. Noel said.
"Our costumes have trendy and tropical names with a view to attracting revellers. Among the names are Bling Bling, Silvarado, Bashment Girl, Flames, Blue Diamond, Reggae
Rhyme, Seaview Beauty and Hardcore Girls," he continued.
They will cost between $2,000 and $2,500 each, including headwear, shorts, tights, wristbands, leggings, plus refreshments for the day.
Overall, Mr. Noel would like to see more business operators downtown coming forward to sponsor Carnival events.
"So far I have received sponsorship from Zekes, on whose premises the Mas Camp is located; Michael Ammar; Wray and Nephew and Lawrence Heffes. We are confident that between now and Carnival Monday others will come forward to help", he said.
The Carnival mas bands are to come from the residents' living in such areas as Tivoli and Fletcher's Land among others. And they will compete for Best Band, Best Costume and Best Dance at the UDC car park on the Waterfront on Carnival Monday, with winners getting trophies.
Mr. Noel hopes to pull more than 700 revellers comprising bands with a maximum of 100 members. And on Carnival Sunday they are expected to join Jamaica Carnival in the Grand Road Parade.
