Vincy Mas Press Conference

The stage is set for Vincy Mas 2011 and this year a number of new innovations have been added to help improve the festival.

On Monday March 28th, the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) held its first press conference for 2011 at the CDC’s Base in Victoria Park.

Coordinator of Shows Anthony Dennie who stated, “all systems are go”, revealed that Vincy Mas 2011 will be officially launched on Saturday May 7th at the Solidarity Inc. Car Park on Bay Street . Dennie said that during the day whistle stops will be held on the Leeward and Windward sides of the island. He said that this year, these whistle stops will include short 20 minute stops in selected areas where cultural presentations will be held. Disc Jockeys from Hitz 103.7 FM will provide music for persons on the Windward side of the island while DJs from the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) will service the Leeward end. As usual, during the day on May 7th, Heritage Square will be transformed into a Carnival village where aspects of our local culture will mix with Carnival elements. Dennie said that the South East and Elite steel orchestras will provide entertainment at Heritage Square while the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra will march around Kingstown . He added that a cultural group from Fancy will also be at Heritage Square while a Vincy Flavor Creole cook off competition will be held in collaboration with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel Association (SVGTA). Ten Junior calypsonians and soca artistes will also showcase their 2011 productions while the semi finals of the 2011 Extempo competition will be held. Dennie said that unlike last year, four persons will be chosen to take part in the Extempto finals slated for later that night at the Solidarity Inc. Car Park.

The launch of Vincy Mas 2011 will begin at 5.30 p.m. with music from the Rhythmix Steel Orchestra while at 6 p.m. persons gathered will hear speeches from the New Minister of Culture Frederick Stephenson and other persons. The nine Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines contestants will also make their first public appearance at which time they will be sashed by their sponsors.

The New Song Competition will also see a few changes where in addition to the Soca and Calypso New Song Competitions, persons in the Ragga Soca genre will be given the opportunity to compete. Dennie said that Ragga Soca has grown by leaps and bounds and therefore the CDC has seen it fit to give Ragga Soca artistes their own competition with regards to new song. Five artistes per category will take part in the new sound competitions while according to Dennie their will be no defending artistes in any of the categories in 2011 and thereafter.

Meanwhile, Dennie said that this year, the CDC will be taking the necessary steps to ensure that they attract more persons to the Victoria Park for the staging of the 2011 Junior Calypso and Junior Soca Competitions on Tuesday June 28th. This year according to the Coordinator, the CDC will be inviting artistes like ‘Fireman Hooper’, ‘Bomani’ and ‘Luta’ to make school visits where they will give pep talks to the students in an effort to create excitement, “to attract the youngsters to attend the show”. Dennie said that this year, the CDC is paying more attention to the youngsters participating in the show. He said that the participants will be given more rehearsal time and for the first time in many years, a dress rehearsal will be held where the young artistes will be given an opportunity to get a feel of the stage and acoustics in an effort to help them improve their performances. Dennie said that a program will also be put in place where youngsters can pay down a dollar a day at school for their tickets.

Also speaking at the press conference, Chairman of the CDC Dennis Ambrose used the opportunity to talk about the view cards and poster for Vincy Mas 2011. He said that the view cards which were available since last August plays a great part in helping sensitize visitors who wish to come to SVG for the festival. Ambrose who described Vincy Mas as the Caribbean ’s biggest event and a powerful marketing tool for SVG also made an appeal to the local Mas Bands to make their designs available to the CDC so that they can be placed on the CDC’s website (www.carnivalsvg.com), to help boost registration. Ambrose also revealed that after the launch, the rural activities will begin in an effort to help keep the Carnival going. The CDC Chairman urged members of the media to continue helping promote Carnival while adding that most of the activities will be streamed live via the Internet thanks to communications provider LIME.

Carnival activities include, Miss SVG on Saturday May 28th, Fantastic Friday on Friday June 17th, Ragga Soca Competition on Friday June 24th, Junior Carnival on Saturday June 25th, Junior Pan Fest on Sunday June 26th, Fire Fete on Wednesday June 29th, Panorama on Thursday June 30th, Miss Carival on Friday July 1st, Soca Monarch Saturday July 2nd, Dimanche Gras Sunday July 3rd, J’Ouvert Monday July 4th, Evening Street Party Monday July 4th and Mardi Gras Tuesday July 5th.

12,04.2011 - Story by Lyf Compton