Day three of Carnival mas camps
Day three of mas camps took place on Wednesday night. The bands were in true form as the judging begins, all leading up to Saturday’s road march. The competitive spirit of the bands was ever present as seven senior and junior mas bands showcase their designs. News Five’s Duane Moody reports on Tuesday and Wednesday’s events.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Over the course of the past two days, a total of seven mas bands were visited by the judges and representatives of the Belize Carnival Association in the journey leading up to the 2017 road march on September ninth. Unfortunately, Pickstock Junior Mas Band was disqualified after the band was unavailable for the prejudging category to determine the champion of the bacchanal. Three seniors and four juniors in two nights; it was an explosion of colors and revelry, increasing the anticipation for the road march.
In the junior category…Sunshine Masqueraders, Soca Massive, Collet Royal Revelers and Black Pearl are all facing off for the coveted title and to win maximum points from the judges. Sunshine Masqueraders, who has won in the junior category in the past, believes that its Jems of the Earth theme will bling enough to capture the judges’ attention.
Ian Young, Manager, Sun Shine Masqueraders
Ian Young
“This year, we will be having two sections. One of the sections we have the black and the silver which represent the white diamonds and onyx. Our theme is Jems of the Earth so we are focusing on five specific gems; namely, white diamond, onyx, yellow and orange citrine, ruby and sapphire. The front group we are looking at the ruby and the sapphire that will be led by Queen Indra and the second group will be led by King Vala which is white diamond and onyx. In between we will be looking at the yellow and orange citrine.”
Over on Iguana Street Extension, there was a sugar rush with Collet Royal Revelers, where the band leader singlehandedly worked on backpacks and costumes that give homage to the late Sir Barry Bowen and a host of local beverages.
Samantha Soberanis
Samantha Soberanis, Band Leader, Collet Royal Revelers
“I decided to do the theme, “Drinks Galore: Creating Memorable Drink Moments.” The reason I decided to do that theme is because I wanted to do the best of Belize and I decided farmers work hard but many time we noh give them recognition or we don’t appreciate the hard work that they do. So I decided let me give back to them this year, but not specifically to the fruits, I am trying to tell them that the fruits they grow for us and what we do with those fruits. So I took their fruits and turn it into drinks. For my first section, I actually did lone juices: lime, orange, watermelon juice and I throw in wah lee banana shake fi mix it up. We can’t drink without water; noh care weh wi make, we have to add water so I decided to dedicate my second section to Crystal water. And then my last section I decided to do Bowen and Bowen beverages, so I decided to do soft drinks.”
But will this year’s junior champion be Dorla Vaughan’s Black Pearl? This year, both her giant costumes took third place respectively in the King and Queen Competition. The team started construction and design of the costumes since May andVaughanis confident as a contender for the title this year.
Dorla Vaughan
Dorla Vaughan, Band Leader, Black Pearl
“This year Black Pearl is portraying “the God and Goddess from Dust till Dawn.” We have the Goddess of the Moon, we have the Goddess of the Northern Star and we have the Sun God.”
Duane Moody
“Talk to us about the color coordination and blending in the different segments.”
Dorla Vaughan
“Mien it was hard work; we started with something and this is what we end up with. Mien…I noh know how to explain myself, but I try mi best fi show that there is a lot of talent in Belize.”
From juniors to seniors….the senior mas camps are always overflowing with band members and onlookers as presentations get underway. The designers are super elaborate with their designs and the diversity is definitely at international standards. And speaking about international, it was a block party onAlbert Streeton Tuesday night as Titans took spectators to theVeniceandTrinidad and Tobago.
David Matus
David Matus, Designer, Titans
“We have a hundred and forty members this year. It is a great feeling especially knowing that we have raised the bar in Belize’s carnival. We are not doing…when you come to Titans Mas Band; you know you are not going to get something too Belizean; we are going to take you out of the box. We need to have Belizeans and designers explore other parts of the world. And you know this carnival in Belize could grow if we only work together and make it better.”
And to round out the camp visits, we headed to the Pick Wick Club where the facilities were taken over by this year’s Senior King and Queen Winner, Belizean Jewel. “Cancer Warriors – Dancing for the Cure” was the theme inspired by multiple tragedies in the family. Kadejah Tun explains:
Kadejah Tun, Belizean Jewels
Kadejah Tun
“Like I said earlier and I have been saying it over and over, we chose this theme because we lost two of our family members—one in January and one in April—to lupus and if you guys know that’s one of the forms of cancer. This year, we are depicting breast cancer, lupus, ovarian and we have a section dedicated to survivors and those who passed away fighting the fight. The root of our theme is more about raising awareness; it is a classroom outside of four walls basically because if we could lose two family members in one year, imagine everybody else. Let me track back to King and Queen for you guys; we placed first in both king and queen but the king costume is more than beyond what the eyes can see. If you guys can remember, the legs and the arms were moving and we made them move because cancer is one of those diseases that actually attacks the joints and you can be paralyzed so that is why we made the man move to show that he is standing tall and no matter what, even if you’ve defeat it or even if you are still laying down and going through depression, we want to put it out that we have fate in your guys so you should just have fate in yourself.”
Pure excitement!! Four bands left to go so stay tuned….Duane Moody for News Five.
