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.... Guest Editorial

15th July 2010
Carnival – The Final Stretch

Dogged by problems just days before its official launch, Carnival 2010 will be hitting the home stretch this weekend in what is hoped will be a wonderful display of fun and artistic creativity on display.
The jour overt carnival parade, which over the years has been growing in popularity, will be judged from the vendors arcade side of the John Compton Highway on Monday morning from 4am – 8am.
Six bands will attempt to grab the title of Jour Ouvert Carnival Band of the Year from Bad Company. The other bands that will be vying for that title and which will emerge from the Vigie Complex, the starting point of the parade, are Toxic J’Ouvert Warriors followed by Mudsters, Bad Company, Just 4 Fun, Insomnia, Ricky T Jour Ouvert Band with Lime in Time all parading before a panel of five judges.
Meanwhile 13 carnival bands will parade before seven judges in the afternoon of the same day before seven judges for the prestigious 2010 Euralis Bouty Band of the Year title.
However while organizers are hoping that this display will reduce the level of criticism they have had to face, prior what will not be forgotten is the more questions than answers type of scenario that tenaciously stayed with the event from the beginning all the way to the end, and which threatens to be present during the moratorium that will be carried out by the Cultural Development Foundation soon after the event comes to an end Tuesday afternoon of next week.
Organizing carnival has always been a challenge, however one would have thought that over the years, and with basically the same persons pulling the organizational strings the challenges would not appear to be so monumental this time around.
Early planning would have certainly ironed out several of the myriad of issues that plagued organizers especially the key issue of venues, at which to host the various shows that form the carnival package.
 
 
We are optimistic that early planning would have taken care of the lack of funding, differences between the Cultural Development Foundation and the Carnival Bands Association, the disappointment of panorama lovers because of the non staging of that event, the tasteless tone of some calypsos, the continuing criticisms of this year’s carnival and of its organizers and the host of other problems Carnival 2010 has had to face.
Organizers it seems are holding their collective breath hoping that some of the troubles they have had to tackle these past few weeks do not spill into the final days of the event so as to cause any major disruption.
However, despite the worrying tone of Carnival 2010 revelers it seems are prepared to revel. In an effort to make the event something to be remembered and not for the myriad of problems that have confronted it, the Homecoming 2010 Committee has joined the bandwagon.
As Saint Lucians prepare themselves to flock to the various events starting Saturday night at the Mindoo Phillip Park for the Calypso Monarch Competition where five former kings will attempt to dethrone The Mighty Pep, they are called on to display good behaviour and respect the rights of others.
Although members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force will be out in full force in an attempt to nip whatever mischief making that may arise during the coming days of carnival Saint Lucians are still being asked to be on their best behaviour as the activities heat up.
Carnival could be held without the malady call crime being present. Saint Lucians now have a chance to show the world that they could stage a crime free weekend of merriment, and what better time to do that than with hundreds of Saint Lucians and visitors on island just for the event.(M.G.)

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