New TTCBA board elected

A new TT Carnival Bands Association (TTCBA) board was elected on November 16 after its second annual general meeting (AGM) and election of officers.

Rosalind Gabriel was re-elected as president while Andrew Alleng was elected vice president.

Mark Ayen, Sparkle Brathwaite, Lionel Jagessar Jr, Glendon Morris and Balnarine Bennie make up the directors.

Gabriel told Newsday the new board is a blend of the old and the new, with four new members and three returning.

She said while there is no Carnival 2021, the board, along with the National Carnival Commission (NCC) is engaged with looking at how aspects of TT’s Carnival can be virtually presented.

“There are many conversations going on now on how we can present different parts of our Carnival safely by means of a digital or virtual presentation to the world.”

Gabriel said there is also a lot of archival material that can be put together and presented to the world.

She said TT’s space for Carnival in February should be marked by speaking to the world and telling them, “We are the home of Carnival and we do it best.”

Covid19 has also brought positives by teaching TT to innovate and do things differently, she said.

The board plans to use digital technology to keep in touch with its members.

“We already made the first step by having our AGM via Zoom and we recognise that the immediate future is with the technology that has become available.

“We will use the technology to keep in touch with our membership to have courses online with those who want to hone their skills whether in traditional or conventional mas.

“We are looking at all these new methods available to us and coming up with ideas, mostly technology based until it is safe to meet again.”