Offstage

THAT CARNIVAL went off without a major hitch is testimony to the efforts of the law enforcement authorities who should be commended for their management of another edition of the festival. Also to be commended are the artists, particularly musicians, who worked overtime to provide the level of energy and enjoyment so many have grown to rely on.

From very early on it was clear Neil “Iwer” George and Kees Dieffenthaller’s Stage Gone Bad was the soca to beat. And notwithstanding some attempts to spark last-minute heat from the competition, no other serious contender for the Road March title surfaced.

The duo’s dominance reflected the sense of reckoning after the disappointment registered by many over the defeat of Kees’ Savannah Grass last year as well as Iwer’s seemingly perennial status of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride – coming tantalisingly close to the title so many, some say too many, times. Both are also to be congratulated for Iwer’s Soca Monarch victory.

In contrast to the flood of musical exuberance were the worrying signs of dwindling attendance at the Queen’s Park Savannah. On Monday, attendance in the Grand Stand and North Park appeared low. Away from the main parade route on Charlotte Street, the capital seemed slow with some vendors stating sales were not as lucrative. However, things were better at the Socadrome, a venue which even some of the traditional “competition” bands have embraced.

Officials will have to assess how well additions to the parade route for the Parade of the Bands worked. The popularity of Stage Gone Bad itself showed a yearning on the part of masqueraders, many of whom spent thousands of dollars on their costumes, to prolong their experience – inclusive of crossing both of the main stages. And yet, the concerns over the Piccadilly Greens venue, despite the heavy police presence throughout the city, were a reminder of the reality of crime and the level of fear it has triggered.

Police must do all that they can to solve the murders of at least three people, including two women, which took place outside of the celebrations over the last few days. Undoubtedly, the debate over the use of firearms by criminals as well as the still highly divisive issue of bail terms are likely to continue to feature on the political landscape. The issue of crime is due to be considered by the Parliament, with Private Members’ Day falling on tomorrow’s date.

Also dampening the joy of the festival was the fact that several people succumbed to fatal road traffic accidents. At least a half-dozen such accidents were recorded, prompting Minister of National Security Stuart Young to call on drivers to be responsible when attending Carnival events and returning home.

The road fatalities underline the dangerous culture of risk-taking which tends to accompany the fete season. In this regard, it’s easy to call for efforts to step up policing of drivers. But what’s needed is a cultural change of being good on the road, if not on the stage.