Carnival organisers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines say they will take steps this year to address the late start of Mardi Gras.
“One of the things over the years with regards to Mardi Gras is the whole matter of that late start. and I can say to you that for 2023, efforts have been made to ensure that the mas bands get into the park as early as possible,” Anthony Dennie, shows and marketing coordinator of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) told a recent press conference.
“We’re looking at a 10 o’clock start and it is our hope that we get Mardi Gras off and kicking at that time,” he said of the event, which is slated for next Tuesday, at Victoria Park.
Dennie said that one of the “perennial problems” is that some masqueraders taking part in Mardi Gras also participate in the Monday street part in Kingstown.
“The Monday night, you want to make three and four laps around the town and then you wake up at 9 a.m. 10 o’clock in the morning not knowing that you’re just holding back the process,” Dennie said.
“So, yes, you can be part of the Monday band but certainly be mindful of the fact that the next day you still have to make another run with your mas band,” he said.
Dennie added: “… nothing wrong in coming off the road eight o’clock and going home and get some rest and waking up early to certainly be part of what is going to happen, the spectacle that is going to happen on Tuesday.”
Twelve bands are resisted to take part in Mardi Gras, during which the band of the year will be determined.
A 13th band will make a guest appearance, as the rules stipulate that a band must be a certain number of years old before it competes.