July 30th 2011
Carnival Monday and Tuesday: “Pure Madness!”
Rae Anthony

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The two days that more than half the population was anticipating: Carnival Monday and Tuesday finally came to pass. After all the shows: Groovy Soca Monarch, Party Monarch, Carnival Queen Show and Calypso and the fetes: Cooler Fete, H20/Wet Fete, Colour me Red, Sexy in Black and Jouvert, Carnival Monday and Tuesday was in full effect.

There were 11 bands on the road with lots to display. These bands included the famous: Redz International, Just for Fun (J4F), Royal Lights Xtreme, Mas Action, Rituals, Toxik and Saint Lucian Spirit. Carnival was even more than what it was expected to be according to most revelers. Carnival was a world of colour and wonder. There were a variety of colours: Red, Blue, Purple, Green, Yellow, Gold, Silver, White, Black, and Orange amongst other colours. There were costumes of all shapes and sizes with different themes. The revelers came out in great numbers and people from various parts of the world came out to enjoy the famous Saint Lucian Carnival which many people say has to be in the top 10 best Carnivals in the world.

Royal Lights Xtreme stood out with its section “Money” which was a striking, gorgeous, seductive green. Redz International made quite an impression with their various sections including: Red Light District, Red Sea and Red Envelope. Although the different bands were competing so that one band would be “Band of the Year”, it did not appear to be that way as Carnival is something that apparently bonds the nation together. There was unity, there was happiness; everybody who was either jumping Carnival or on the sidelines seemed to be enjoying every bit of it. The revelers were dancing to the popular Soca and groovy hits including DJ H.P’s “Dance Doggy” and “Drunkerneers”, Ricky T’s “Indian Gyal” and “Mash Up”, Ambi and Mongsta’s “Glo Koko” and Ambi’s “Ma Maley” along with several other upbeat tunes.

Several individuals ended up on the well known “Facebook Casualties”; a Facebook Page which features various events and also features the people who were in the wrong place, at the wrong time; (Hilarious pictures).

Ricky T who is the 2011 Groovy and Party monarch King also took the
Road March title. His single “Mash Up” had the revelers going absolutely crazy on the road. Some revelers even took the song to another level and climbed a hill, where they did just as specified, “Mash up do a mad ting!” The revelers started cutting grass and getting on extremely mad, throwing grass in the air. (In their defense, they were just doing as the song said. It was another “lol moment”).

Mas Action was the “Band of the Year”, a title which they are famous for winning; it has occurred on several occasions.

Carnival also included the well known “Old Mas” where revelers displayed popular controversial topics with double meaning statements. Two revelers had a slogan which read “King go barely win” and “Kenny go barely lose”. The revelers were wearing the political colours red and yellow and displayed “big bellies”. It was obvious that since the elections are nearing, the revelers chose to make a comparison between the different parties based on what is going on.

Choice TV (a local station) was broadcasting Carnival live along with all the other shows. Not only was it broadcasted locally, it was aired online so the entire world could view Saint Lucia’s Carnival.

After Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Carnival was the trending topic the next day. Almost everyone seemed to be posting and updating statuses on the event and uploading pictures and videos. Carnival however, is not completely over for some people, as Gros Islet will host their own Carnival today, Saturday, and Sunday.

2011 Carnival could be defined as a great success in a few words.

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