Trench Town Masqueraders, 13 Years of Celebrating Carnival

The 2024 carnival season is in full swing. We are on the heels of the Miss Carnival Pageant that took place on Saturday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. Soca Moca was declared the winner in the senior mas band category. Jump Street Junior Band won in the junior category.  With that event now behind us, carnival bands across the city are gearing up for upcoming events, including the highly anticipated Carnival Road March. Over the weekend, News Five’s Paul Lopez visited the Trench Town Masqueraders to get a glimpse into their practice session. He brings us that story in tonight’s installment of Kolcha Tuesday.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

For the past thirteen years Patricia Flowers has been leading the Trench Town Masqueraders in Saint Martin De Porres.

 

Patricia Flowers, Leader, Trench Town Carnival Band

“I have been dancing since I was five, then you know your kids grow up and you don’t want to be in the same category, so I decided to do my own, because for the love of carnival, you don’t want to take it out of you.”

 

 

 

 

We paid a visit to Flowers and her band during their practice session on Oleander Street in preparation for the upcoming Carnival Road March. The atmosphere was energetic. The revelers were fully engaged in their choreography. Several people from within the community were present simply to spectate and feed off the high energy.

 

 

 

Patricia Flowers

“The only thing that has changed with carnival is people loving carnival for being carnival. Back then nobody fights over carnival. Anybody could have stood up at anybody’s band. You could have done anything, but today’s day carnival turns into a fight.”

 

 

 

Over the years, the competition between carnival bands has become fierce. With huge sponsorship and coveted bragging rights on the line, being declared the best of the best during the carnival season comes with its perks.  Angie Pineda has been embracing the carnival spirit from the age of ten. Pineda’s commitment to this carnival group has seen her transition from the junior to the senior band.

 

 

 

Angie Pineda, Reveler, Trench Town Carnival Band

“So it feels very thrilling, very energetic. I feel so happy. It feels like you are in your own little bubble, you are being your own little person. It is something I really like and it is like there is no negativity in it at all. So, it is just a fun way, it is just basically energetic.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is there anything you need to do or have to be a good reveler?”

 

Angie Pineda

“No, as shocking as may look if you just look at me you wouldn’t think I can dance or anything. I have gotten that a lot. When I was younger it was the same way. I didn’t know to dance really good. But they taught me. So you don’t have to be a good dancer or a dancer at all. We teach you and you just come along and you will be great.”

 

 

2024 is the third year that Trench Town Masqueraders is organizing a senior band. Many of the revelers, like Pineda, spent most of their childhood years competing at the junior level in this very group. Flowers decided to establish a senior section as a natural progression. We also engaged Chantel Serano, another reveler, during our visit. As a true testament to the unity that exists within carnival bands, Serano says she offers her time to assist where necessary.

 

 

Chantel Serano, Reveler, Trench Town Carnival Band

“When it comes to Trench Town, we want to bring things to the way it was back then where it is not about what you wear. Of course, you want to look your best and everything, but what you can expect from Trench Town is that you are going to see the family bond. You are going to see everyone smiling, having fun, clean fun of course. We have a lot of these girls who work very hard. They have their jobs, go to school, our group consists of a lot of people who have a lot going on. So, when they come out here, this is their free up, their release.”

 

But the longstanding carnival culture that comes alive during the September celebrations is by no means perfect. When we interviewed Band Leader, Patricia Flowers on Sunday she was still distraught over the results of the Miss Carnival Pageant the night before.

 

Patricia Flowers

“I mean everybody just the kill the love of carnival.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What do you mean by fight?”

 

Patricia Flowers

“Literal Facebook post bashing each other, after events having fights, it doesn’t make any sense.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How do you feel about that?”

 

 

Patricia Flowers

“Frustrated, mad and I can’t even explain the rest.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Are you all deciding to compete this year?”

 

Patricia Flowers

“After last night I have two minds, because fairness in carnival is also dead. I used to be a quite person, and after the years of carnival I can’t be quiet anymore, because what you see and what you put in, fair is fair. We all work hard.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is this the most frustrating year for you yet?”

 

 

 

 

Patricia Flowers

“In the events yes. In the parts with sponsorship and so. I am use to it. I have been through tribulations, trials, drama and I still come out carnival day.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.