St. Maarten Carnival 2007 kicks
off Saturday with big street jam
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Carnival 2007 with the theme “Jammin 24-7 for Carnival 2007” officially opens on Saturday, April 21, with a street jam that starts at John Cooper/Jose Lake Sr. Ballpark at 8:00pm.
As is tradition, local bands will line up at that location and start delivering their hottest soca and calypso tunes to gain the attention of eager revellers, who line the streets waiting to join in the annual festivities.
The procession to the Carnival Village is usually led by a Carnival mascot carrying the symbolic golden key used to officially open the gates of Carnival Village, now called the Festival Village.
This process of opening the gate is considered the official opening ceremony of Carnival and is traditionally the responsibility of the Lt. Governor of the Island Territory of St. Maarten. It is expected that some speeches will follow at the Festival Village, by Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) board members who usually encourage revellers to join jam and celebrate while putting emphasis on being safe.
SCDF President Fabiana Arnell said the band members would all be dressed in uniforms this year, displaying the special colours of each band.
She said the bands were encouraged to be present and punctual for the line-up and inspection before the start of the street jam. The line up is at 7:00pm, and all bands should be present by 6:45pm for a smooth start of the street jam.
The street jam starts at the ballpark on L.B. Scott Road at 8:00pm. SCDF said bands arriving later than 7:15pm would not be permitted to enter the line-up.
Band members are reminded that police will be on the spot conducting their inspections to ensure all trailers and trucks are in compliance with the traffic regulations.
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