’08 Carnival has
come and gone
~ King Momo burnt, 4M Band 2008 Carnival Band of the Year ~
PHILIPSBURG--Carnival revellers had the last opportunity to bid farewell to the season as King Momo was burnt, wiping out all sins for the last year on Saturday shortly after 12:00 midnight, following the last lap jump-up.
Three bands, namely the 4M Band, Entyce Band, No Limit Band, along with Hilltop DJ Crew carried the rather large crowd from John Cooper Jose Lake Ballpark to the Festival Village where many took the last opportunity to fête.
Saturday night was also the last chance for the bands that participated in this year’s Carnival activities to prove which was the Best Carnival Band. The 4M Band earned the bragging rights when it was announced as the 2008 Carnival Band of the Year.
While many attempted to enjoy the last night of Carnival as a colourful fireworks display was presented, other gang related groups found it the appropriate time to regulate their gripes.
Throughout the village, this caused widespread scuffles, which had to be intervened by the Police Authorities, who eventually stopped entrance to the village for a period of time. (See related story.)
Persons in the Village otherwise taking in the true meaning of the night by observation seemed very impressed with the burning process of King Momo. It included a fire stunt on a twirling metal apparatus and loud bomb-like fireworks that all led the trail of fire to King Momo.
Apart from that, revellers were seen enjoying the food, drinks and music provided by the several booth holders who remained open until about 3:30am.
After a two-week period of Carnival activities in the Festival Village, this year’s season closed off with Raheen “Mighty Hefe Junior” Frederick retaining his title as St. Maarten Carnival Junior Road-march King, Rumini “Young Calix” Rogers being crowned the 2008 Junior Calypso King and Cherrianne Dangleben being crowned the 2008 Carnival Junior Queen.
Despite being unsuccessful in soliciting sufficient candidates to compete for the Teen and Senior Carnival Queen Crowns, the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) nonetheless respectively crowned Cindy-Lee Doran and Shaneka Sinclair, the only two young ladies who had registered for the pageant.
Taking home this year’s Calypso King Title was Leroy “King Beau-Beau” Brooks who was crowned the 2008 Carnival Senior Calypso King and was also the winner of the first time From Us To You: King of Kings Competition.
To round the season off with the final and most anticipated competition being the Grand Carnival Parade earning the right to be called the Best Troupe for St. Maarten’s 39th Annual Carnival was the Bacchanal Productions Mass Camp led by Carol Tackling with its theme “Unleashing the World of Serengeti.”
While some may be saddened and others relieved by the end of the season, all in all, the season has closed with a sense of bitterness from individuals more personally involved in the festive arrangements, such as the booth holders, troupe leaders, show promoters and perhaps even the Carnival foundation itself.
