DEMO OF GRAND STAND TO BEGIN . . . . STILL NO CARNIVAL VENUE

IT is official.

The Grand Stand at Queen’s Park Savannah is scheduled to be demolished in the new year, dashing all hopes of masqueraders enjoying another Carnival crossing the big stage.

However, Minister of Community, Culture and Gender Affairs Joan Yuille-Williams is yet to announce an alternative venue or venues for major events traditionally held there.

Yuille-Williams promised on Friday that plans would be revealed yesterday after a meeting between the Ministry and officials of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott).

A media release yesterday from Udecott, however, made no mention of alternative Carnival plans. Instead the organisation announced its “regret” in informing the national community of the Grand Stand’s demolition.

“As many would appreciate, after dealing with the projected cost for the new Savannah facility that was almost double in price of what Cabinet had authorised, Udecott was forced to address the issue of value engineering and methodology in an effort to bring this project to within the cost parameters established by the Government of T&T.

“Udecott now feels that this development can go forward within the price parameters established by the Government and proposals from pre-qualified contractors will be sought in early 2007,” stated the release.

According to Udecott, it is now “absolutely imperative” that tenders be let for immediate demolition of the Grand Stand and other supporting buildings.

This means, the paddocks and head offices of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) and the National Carnival Bands’ Association (NCBA) at the Queen’s Park Savannah will be “hoarded” for salvage material early in the new year.

“A salvage of value materials is likely to be in the range of several million dollars and Udecott intends to dismantle the structure similar to the North Stand so that these facilities could be reassembled for use in other areas of the country,” said Udecott.

Shand: Demolish but

don’t build

Support for the demolition has come from an unlikely source as environmentalist Eden Shand when contacted yesterday said it was time for the Grand Stand to go.

“I don’t mind that they break down the Grand Stand because that should go. What I want them to do is not build,”he said.

Shand claimed that the Environmental Management Authority, “failed us by giving this project a Certificate of Environmental Clearance without a public consultation.”

He alleged that the procurement process for the project has gone awry and while the $450 million Carnival Cultural Centre to be erected has a conceptual design, the project is being tendered as a “design/build.”

“My understanding on the Savannah is that the conceptual will be used and whoever gets the design/build will follow that concept...the design builder has not been selected as yet. If the Chinese come in and say they want to be the design builders do we have to guess which way the contract will go?”

Shand claimed that QPS could be following in the footsteps of the Performing Arts Centre which was being constructed by the Chinese Government at the Princes Building Grounds, in Port-of-Spain.

“If you rush to give out this contract I will smell a dirty rat,”he said.

The salvage demolition process according to Udecott is scheduled to take three months after which the new facility will commence “as soon as possible.”



©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

STILL NO CARNIVAL VENUE

The minister of culture Joan Jollie-Williams, still has no solution to the 2k7 venue for carnival. As stated in the Trinidad Express by culture minister, "If Carnival does not make it to QPS stage there are other alternative venues".

So what are the alternative venues minister???????? So many people have booked their flights and paid down on their costumes, this dilemma I predict will affect some people who coming from foreign for carnival.

Many of my friends and family shared their views, and some say carnival will always be carnival, is a bacchanal season, no situation is going to keep them from having a good time. Sure, but what about first timers to the carnival season, this unorganization and last minute decisions will send a negative message to locals, foreigners and the world. How can we boast the 'World's Greatest Show On Earth' and we are a few months away and have no venue. Frankly, it is a major deciding factor for me, playing mas for the first time. I want to experience the glory of crossing the stage in all my splendor with my friends and family.

There is not much time left and I am personally waiting in anticipation, for the solution, to the 2k7 carnival venue.

abu bakr FREE ...I won't give him the respect

This is insane. Are the police doing their job? According to the Trinidad Express, Justice Ibrahim outlined 16 inconsistencies with the evidence, which lead him to "grave doubt", thereby ordering the jury to deliver a not guilty verdict in favor of abu bakr. Apparently the evidence the prosecution had was not strong enough to convict, it did not support the allegations made against bakr. What are the police doing?

After the coup in 1990, He was granted a pardon, initiated by then acting President Emmanuel Carter (in fear for his life). Here we are in 2006 not but 16 years later, the country is still dealing with the violence and senseless loss of life.
You would think that 'the powers that be' would have done whatever it takes to get this extremist group out of commission.

Well, if you look at the world right now and all that is going on, you would not be surprised with what is going on in Trinidad. No where in the world is completely safe. For those who believe, we know why these events are happening. Ultimately, "Thy Kingdom Come". But, we cannot help but to hope for the world to become a better place for our children, and for our TnT to become 'SWEET TnT' once again.

FETE FUH SO..........

LADIES AND GENTS, GET READY......

HERE IS THE 2007 EVENT SCHEDULE

Sat. 6th Jan
South Carnival Launch
Fire Services Fete (Blazing Soca)
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
9pm

BGTT Energy 2nd Annual All-Inclusive Fete
Chaguaramas Golf Club
Chaguaramas
4:30pm

COMESS Fete (TriniLimers Entertainment)
Sevilla Sports Club
Couva
Time: 5:00 p.m -12:00 pm
All inclusive premium bar and food items, featured artistes and giveaways
Featured Entrainment: Dawg E Slaughter, Jungle, Anil Bheem, Plipdeco Shining Stars Tassa Group, Blaze & JW of 96.7 FM.
Music by: DJ Wally International, Journey the Angel

Sun. 7th Jan.

Trinity College's Soka In Moka
Trinity College
Moka
Maraval
4pm
music by Caribbean Traffik Jam, Atlantik, Shurwayne Winchester, Destra, Hurricane George and more...

Tribe All-Inclusive Fete
Jamboree Park
Valsayn
4pm

Francois Girls College All-Inclusive
Lions Cultural Center
Port of Spain
4pm

Fri. 12th Jan

4 Kings Show Part 1
Pier 1
Chagaramas
8:30pm

Legacy Fete
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
9pm

Sat. 13th Jan

QRC Outta de Blue VIII All-Inclusive Fete
QRC Grounds
St. Clair
8pm
music by: Roy Cape All Stars, Caribbean Traffik Jam, Sagicor Exodus Steel Orchestra, Shadow, Shurwayne Winchester, Worldwide Steel Orchestra and DJ Hurricane George

National Flour Mills Soca by the Silos
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
9pm

Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard Fete
check local paper for information including venue
9pm

Sun. 14th Jan

Amnesia Fete (Island People)
Pier 1
Chagaramas
4pm

Jess and Friends All-Inclusive Fete
Valsayn
5pm

UWI All-Inclusive 17th Annual All-Inclusive Fete
UWI Grounds
St Augustine

Sat. 19th Jan

Legacy Coolerama C2K6
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
9pm

Sat. 20th Jan

Bishop Anstey Hilarians All-Inclusive Carnival Fund Raising Fete
Bishop Anstey High School
Keate Street
Port of Spain
4pm
music by Roy Cape All Stars, Caribbean Traffik Jam, Atlantik and DJ Richard Simply Smooth and the Syndicate

International School Fete
Westmoorings

Holy Faith Fete
Couva

South Rotary Fete
check local paper for information including venue

Broadway for Youths
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
4pm

Wicked in White
Queen's Park Oval
Port of Spain
2pm

Trini Revellers' Fete
Pier 1
Chagaramas

Sun. 21st Jan

Amoco All-Inclusive Fete
Amoco
4pm

Crews Inn All-Inclusive Fete
Chaguaramas

McLeod's All-Inclusive Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas
4pm

Hilton All-Inclusive Fete
Hiton Hotel
Lady Young Road
Port of Spain

Army Fete (Safari by Regiment)
check local paper for information including venue
9pm

Port of Spain East Lions All-Inclusive Fete
Lions Civic Centre
Port of Spain
4pm

Diabetic Association Fete
check local paper for information including venue

Fri. 26th Jan

Bazodee Friday's Coconuts
Pier 1
Chaguaramas

Sat. 27th Jan

D'Pholis Annual All-Inclusive Party
Trinity/Bishop's School
Trincity

Blue Range Residents All-Inclusive Fete
Tennis Courts
Diego Martin
7pm

Pearl Garden Residents All-Inclusive Fete
Pearl Gardens
Petit Valley
7pm

Newsday Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas

St Mary's College Past Students' Union Annual All-Inclusive Carnival Fete (Fete with the Saints)
St Mary's College Centenary Hall
Pembroke Street
Port of Spain
5pm
music by: Shurwayne Winchester & Traffik, Roy Cape All Stars, Imij & Co, Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz, plus DJs CIN and CG

Outrageous In Red Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas

Sun. 28th Jan

Magnolias All-Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue<
5pm/B>

BpTT All-Inclusive Fete
Trinidad Country Club
Maraval
4pm

Crews Inn All-Inclusive Fete
Chaguaramas
4pm

Seals All-Inclusive Fete
Diego Martin
5pm

Yorke Inc Annual All-Inclusive Fete
Federation Park
St. Clair

Caribbean Wet Fete 2007
check local paper for information including venue

Parrot Rive Lime Fete
Hilton Trinidad
Lady Young Road
Port of Spain
5pm

Mount Hope Fete
Carpark
Mt Hope
5pm

Port of Spain East Lions All-Inclusive Fete
Lions Civic Centre
Port of Spain
4pm

Michael Headley's All-Inclusive Fete (Poison Fete)
Salybia
11am
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February 2007

Fri. 2nd Feb

Ladies First Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas
9pm

Central Bank All Inclusive Experience Fete
Eric Williams Plaza
9pm

Sat. 3rd Feb

NGC Sports Club Fete
Trinidad Country Club
Maraval
9pm

O' Farrell's All-Inclusive Fete
Mobs 2
Chaguaramas
9pm

Royal Bank Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas
9pm

South Cancer Society 14th Annual Premium All-Inclusive Fete
San Fernando Yacht Club
Hubert Rance Street
San Fernando
2pm

Farm Fete
Nestle

Woman IV Fete
Maska Compound

Kaiso Fiesta (National Calypso Monarch Semi-final)
Skinner Park
San Fernando
1pm

WASA Fete
Port of Spain
check local paper for information including venue

Sun. 4th Feb

National Center for People with Disability All-Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue
4pm

Maritime All-Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue
4pm

Annual Blood Bank Fete
Trinidad Country Club
Maraval

US Embassy 5th Annual All-Inclusive Fete
Chaguaramas Golf Course
Chaguaramas
4pm

Friends of ASSC Fete
check local paper for information including venue
4pm

McLeod All Inclusive
Pier 1
Chaguaramas

Fri. 9th Feb

Till Drunk do us Part
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
9pm

XYZ Fete
check local paper for information including venue
9pm

Cooler World II Fete
Queens Park Oval
Woodbrook

Misty Ridge Premier All-Inclusive
The Ranch
Santa Cruz

Sat. 10th Feb

Fatima College Fete
Fatima College
Mucurapo Road
Woodbrook
5pm
music by: Traffik, Roy Cape All Stars, Shurwayne Winchester, St James, Tripolians and Hurricane George

Machel Montano's Alternative Concept 5
Queen's Park Savannah
Port of Spain

Karma Sutra Fete
Trinidad Country Club
Maraval

Skin to Skin Fete
check local paper for information including venue
7pm

Kaiso Fiesta (National Calypso Monarch Semi-final)
Skinner Park
San Fernando
1pm

Caribbean Brass Festival
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
7pm

Chutney Brass 5 (Randy Glasgow Productions)
Guaracara Park
Pointe-a-Pierre
5pm

Sun. 11th Feb

Coast/Air Guard All Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue

Heart Beat Fete
Hilton Hotel
Lady Young Road
Port of Spain
12 noon

Jamborie Park Fete
Mobs 2
Chaguaramas
4pm

Carec All Inclusive
Federation Park
St. Clair
4pm

Nestle's All Inclusive
check local paper for information including venue
4pm

UNC All Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue
4pm

Citibank All-Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue
5pm

T&Tec Soca Shoka VII Fete
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
4pm

3 Red Men
Screamers II
Southland Mall

Hearts On Fire All-Inclusive Fete
Hotel Normandie
10 Nooks Avenue
St. Anns

Mon. 12th Feb

PNM Fete
Balisier House
9pm

Mardi Gras Fete
Queen’s Park Oval

Tue. 13th Feb

Eyes Wide Shut Fete Carnivale
Queen's Park Oval
Port of Spain
9pm

Bishops Junior School All-Inclusive Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas
7pm

Island Style Glow 2007
Mobs 2
Chaguaramas
8pm

AWOL at Soul Beach All-Inclusive Fete
Bay View
Maracas

Wed. 14th Feb

Customs Boys Fete
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
9pm

Bacchanal Wednesday
Chaguaramas
9pm

Island People Fete
check local paper for information including venue

Thu. 15th Feb

Michael Headley's All-Inclusive Fete (Poison Fete)
Salybia

Beach House Carnival
Ortinola Estate
Maracas

UWI Splash
Chaguaramas
9pm

Tribe Carnival Thursday
Queen's Park Oval
Port of Spain
9pm

T&T Police Association's Carnival Fete
T&T Police Barracks
St James
9pm

Trini Bashment Soca 91.9FM presents Soca Thursday Finale
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
7pm

Blanchisseuse All-Inclusive Fete
check local paper for information including venue
Fri. 16th Feb. International Soca Monarch Final (Caribbean Prestige Productions' Fantastic Friday)
Oval
Port of Spain
7pm

Fri. 16th Feb

Island People's Girl Power Fete
Queen's Hall
Port of Spain

Hedonism 3 All-Inclusive Fete
Hilton Poolside
Lady Young Rd
Port of Spain

A Taste A La Carte Fete
Ambassador Hotel
Long Circular Road
St. James

VIP Friday All-Inclusive Fete
The Hotel Normandie
10 Nooks Avenue
St Ann’s
9pm

Fusion Friday
Tucker Valley
Macqueripe
12 noon

Cooler Fete
Pier 1
Chaguaramas

Rise All-Inclusive Fete
Trinidad Country Club
Maraval

Fete'n On De Boat
MV Treasure Queen
Pier 2
Chaguaramas
7pm

Blue Range Cooler Fete
Blue Range Courts
Diego Martin
9pm

Red Eye III (Dawn Till Dusk) Fete
check local paper for information including venue

Sat. 17th Feb

National Panorama Final (Large & Medium Conventional Bands)
Queens Park Savannah
Port of Spain
7pm

Chutney Survivor (Randy Glasgow Production)
music by: Dil-E-Nadan and more...
Free breakfast will be given out to all those who "survive" til the early hours of the morning.

Insomnia Fete (Island Style)
Mobs 2
Chaguaramas
9pm

Cotton Tree foundation Saturnalia All Inclusive Fete
Spanish Acres
Ariapita Road
St. Ann's
3pm

Hilton Poolside All Inclusive Fete
Hiton Hotel
Lady Young Road
Port of Spain
7pm

Dawn - Sunrise in the City
Jenny's Carpark
Cipriani Boulevard
Port of Spain

Lions PoS Tenth Annual Class is Class All-Inclusive Fete
Lions Civic Centre
Port of Spain
7pm

Atlantis Ultra All-Inclusive Fete
Club O
Western Main Road
Cocorite

Trini Posse All-Inclusive Fete
Chaguaramas

Sunny Side Up All-Inclusive Breakfast Party
Palm Avenue West
Petit Valley

Sun. 18th Feb

Dimanche Gras 2007 (Kings & Queens of Carnival Finals)
Queen's Park Savannah
Port of Spain
7pm

Brian Lara All Inclusive Fete
Chancellor Hill
Queen's Park West
Port of Spain
4pm

Hilton Poolside All Inclusive Fete
Hiton Hotel
Lady Young Road
Port of Spain
4pm

Moka All Inclusive Fete
Maraval
4pm

Mania Fete (Trinidad Country Club)
Trinidad Country Club
4pm

In de Sanctuary All-Inclusive Fete
Valsayn
4pm

Soca Tutorial
UWI Grounds
St Augustine

National Calypso Monarch Final (Dimanche Gras)
Queen's Park Savannah
Port of Spain
7pm

Mon. 19th Feb

Carnival Monday

all areas of TnT
J'Ouvert 2007 (Trinidad)

all areas
4am
J'Ouvert 2007 (Tobago)
‘Ole Mas on the streets of Scarborough
4am

Pan On The Road - Pan/Mas
Victoria Square & Down Town Port of Spain
1pm

Parade of Bands (Trinidad)
Streets of Port of Spain
11am

Parade of Bands (Tobago)
Streets of Scarborough
12pm

Monday Night Mas
Victoria Square
Port of Spain

Carnival Jump Up Fete
Hilton Hotel
Lady Young Road
Port of Spain

Pan Trinbago stages Pan on the Road
Victoria Square and Downtown venues
Port of Spain
1pm

Monday Night Las Lap Fete
Soca Broadway
Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
10pm

Tue. 20th Feb

Carnival Tuesday

all areas of TnT
Parade of Bands
Streets of Port of Spain
9am

Pan Trinbago stages Pan on the Road
Victoria Square and Downtown venues
Port of Spain
9am

Pan Trinbago stages Las' Lap
Western Main Road
St James
6pm

Wed. 21st Feb

Las' Lap Beach Lime
Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas, Blanchisseuse Bay

Wild Meat Beach Lime
Balandra Bay

Chutney Soca Tent Ash Wednesday Cool Down
Quinam Beach
South Coast
9am
featuring Miss Bikini and Miss Wet T-Shirt Contests

Ash Wed Boatride
MV Treasure Queen
Pier 2
Chaguaramas

Carnival Lovers World Wide 7th Annual After Carnival Beach Party
Store Bay
Tobago
10am

Talk Tent 2007Queen's Hall
Port of Spain
8pm

No decision on the Carnival Venue 2k7 yet!!!

What really going on? Tis the season to be ready for the influx of visitors and dollars into the country. Why is it so hard to make a decision as to the venue location. If they have not started the removal of the existing structure in QPS, why oh why, can we not use it for one more year. There is definitely no evidence of the new proposed multi-million National Carnival and Entertainment Centre. So make it simple "USE WHAT YUH HAVE".
Ok, so we the country of TnT don't rely on tourism, but the Minister of Culture and all the carnival interests groups, don't seem to see the importance of the what our Carnival Season does for this country. Let's capitalize, only once a year do we see our airports crowded, our hotels completely booked, all the rental cars gone, and lets not talk about how many people will be shopping, eating and drinking.
I feel like it will be chaos and if they don't make a decision fast as to where the venue will be held, we will suffer all kinds of repercussions.
Tell meh, who want to go to Skinner Park for Panorama?????
Why break tradition. The stage is where all the magic happens. Masqueraders, look forward to crossing the stage and exhibiting to the world the energy, and beauty of our culture.
Where else in the world do you know of, that pretty much, the whole country is on vacation for a cultural event.

Carnival concerns

The season is here and everyone is talking about how prices have risen. The costumes, the fetes, the cost of travel and everything else. Really, is this a cultural event anymore? Have we come to this.... "Carnival" The business.
Ok, over the past few years we have gotten more exposure on an international level and as it seems, it has created a need to change the way we use to play mas. Personally, I welcome the all inclusive service. All that a masquerader needs is all in easy reach. Your food, drinks, mobile lavatory, mobile spa to fix yuh self up, down to protection in case you have a moment. So, I could kind a understand the need to raise the prices. But oh gosh! these prices lending to the exclusion of over worked, under compensated patrons like myself.
We the people need a little more from these bands, who for the nature of competition are setting themselves apart by the services they offer.

So here are some suggestions

A bra that fits, no matter what size
No extra costs for the type of under garment, thong, hi-cut, boy shorts etc.
No size discrimination
Please, be more sensitive to your oversees masqueraders (online registration should be open 24hrs) Some of us do have to work!
Let me stop here, cause I can't list all but let me mention one more
If you have a masquerader who played with you more than once... offer some kinda discount, a little 10% or something.

For my readers, add your concerns to the list.