Carnival King and Queen contest set for Saturday

This month, Belize will be draped in red, white and blue but one highlight of the September celebrations is the kaleidoscope of colours featured in Carnival. And this weekend, coronation ceremonies will take place in the old capital for the man and woman who can jump up the best … and look good doing it. News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin explains.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The costumes are still a secret but this year, seven carnival bands, four juniors and three seniors, will compete in the King and Queen competition. And according to the Carnival Committee Public Relations Officer Edith Tesecum, everyone is in it to win it.

Edith Tesecum, Public Relations Officers, Carnival Committee
?I mean it?s the hardest thing to get them to show off what costume they will be displaying on the night of the event. Because that is where they pull out the big guns that is actually where they get the extra points and whatever else. The king and queen competition, that part of the costume wearing, is not actually judged in the road march so that is why they are kind of fearful showing off what they have in the fear that someone will choose to steal their idea. We will be looking for colours; they will be looking for patriotism we are going to be looking at how you can dance with your costume. If you take it off that is an automatic disqualification, because then your costume would then be considered a float if it stands by itself. So they have to be able to move in their costumes, wine to the music and of course they have to be able to show carnival spirit.”

Marina Welcome, Band Leader, Jump Street Posse
?The theme I am depicting this year is fantasy of the wildlife. I have no problem in revealing that, because king and queen is Saturday night and you have to fantasize to think what I am doing. So that is no problem. But it is something for you to look forward to because I think this year Jump Street Posse will give you a carnival that you will never forget.?

Band leaders say preparation for the big night has been a challenge due to poor sponsorship from the business community.

Marilyn Young, Band Leader, Sunshine Masquerader
?We get a little from Benny?s and a little from Marine?s and Services. It is nothing much to talk about, but it is a big help because the other places that we asked they always said that things are not ok and stuff like that. For the love of it and with the children we cannot say we won?t do it.?

Charlene Allen McDonald, Band Leader, Fantazia Mas Band
?So far we are waiting for a few more companies to say whether they will be sponsoring us in kind or cash. We have actually branched out to the districts to get sponsorship. I hope I am not offending anyone in the city, but sponsorship from outside has been a lot easier to get.?

David Matus, Band Leader, Erotic Carnival Band
?Due to the fact that we do not have the money we just got the frames done this week. So it is just one week of intensive work into these costumes.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?And when did you guys start working??

David Matus
?The king costume started on Sunday, and the queen costume started on Tuesday night. So we have a lot of work. I don?t know when I will get some rest, but we got to finish it.?

Dorla Vaughan, Band Leader, Black Pearl
?I wish the Belizean people would come out and sponsor the carnival bands them more better every year. Because when September comes they look forward to see something good out there and without a good sponsorship you cannot put out a good costume.?

Although money has been tight each group has stretched supplies…and their imaginations.

Jacqueline Godwin
?Are you sticking with the patriotic theme here??

Dorla Vaughan
?Yes I am.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?So what should we expect on that night?

Dorla Vaughan
?I?ll leave that as a surprise.?

David Matus
?Having, hold the titles for last year?s king and queen, this year we want to come out a little bit better.?

Charlene Allen McDonald
?Vast improvement from last year. Because last year was our first year as Fantazia by our self and we had a lot of problems. But this year we have all of that worked out. We actually sat with the guy who is making the costume and give and take a little bit. In terms of the king and queen vast improvement from last year.?

Marilyn Young
?It will be left up to the kids. They are the ones who are more hyper. I will be hyper, but it will actually be the actual day. Right now like how I am working I am not into it as yet. Too much work.?

Marina Welcome
?We are hoping that everybody comes out and Saturday night and support us. There are also having Queen of the Bay Saturday night, but I don?t think that will be an effect on us because Queen of the Bay has its own fans and we have our own fans.?

Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.

The Carnival King and Queen Competition gets underway at seven on Saturday night at the Marion Jones Stadium. Tickets are ten dollars for adults, five dollars for children and fifteen reserve.