What’s In Store for Carnival 2024?

It’s an event that a lot of Belizeans look forward to as part of the September celebrations. The Carnival parade usually offers a visual potpourri of colours, sights and sounds. Revelers are often up from the crack of dawn to take part in J’ouvert before the big dance – that is, the carnival road march. The event this year will be huge, going by what carnival officials are saying, with as many of fourteen bands. New to the 2024 parade is the participation of bands hailing from as far away as Corozal and Punta Gorda. But there is a need for more assistance, especially from a junior band that suffered a major setback this week. News Five’s Marion Ali serves you this week’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday with what carnival is shaping up to be in this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

It may still be a month away, but the planners, organizers, designers and officials of Carnival 2024 are having their busiest time making sure that whatever necessary adjustments are made in time. Owner of senior band, Mother Nature Creations, Carla Flowers, says she has already gotten most of her spaces filled.

 

Carla Flowers, Owner, Mother Nature Creations Carnival Band

“This year looks great for me, so I’m not going through any challenge right now, like I have a platinum sponsor, which is Belize Tourist Board.”

 

Marion Ali

“Oh, great. Okay, so how many members do you have?”

 

Carla Flowers

“Well, I’m catering for like one hundred and fifty. I already have one-forty. So maybe only 10 more we are going for.”

 

Marion Ali

“Three segments? How many?”

 

Carla Flowers

“Seven segments.”

 

 

 

The overall parade in Belize City is also shaping up to be a great display this year, according to President of the Belize Carnival Association, Patrick Thompson, who said there will be a couple new aspects to the tradition.

 

Patrick Thompson, President, Belize Carnival Association

“We have been visiting the bands. And we see where the bands have improved a lot. So I must say, yes, the route has changed, yes, but that again is a new thing for Carnival this year. So I can assure you that the hype, regardless of the route, will be the same come September 7th. We have five junior bands and five senior bands this year. Also, we should be seeing a band coming out of Punta Gorda. And we are in dialogue with a band from Corozal and Orange Walk. What we want to do is to make carnival a national carnival, where we want these different municipalities to have their own, and then all the winners from different municipalities come to a national carnival.”

 

 

 

While the general momentum is positive, one junior band suffered a significant misfortune this week. Marina Welcome, who owns Jump Street Posse, told us today that things were also looking good for them, until someone paid an unwelcome visit to their camp.

 

Marina Welcome, Owner, Jump Street Posse

“It was going good until they sabotaged my camp. The other night in the hard rain, I think it was like about three o’clock in the morning, they tried to get in on sabotage. I don’t know if they took pictures or what, but right now they have me – I was doing good. Right now they have me one step behind because I had to do a lot of repairs.”

 

 

 

 

Marion Ali

“So they damaged some of your stuff?”

 

Marina Welcome

“Yes, a lot of them. Almost all the head pieces, so I had to take a day and a half and did all that all over again and repair.”

 

Marion Ali

“How many pieces?”

 

Marina Welcome

“Sixty.”

 

Marion Ali

“And the band is made up of how many members?”

 

 

 

Marina Welcome

“I’m catering for sixty.”

 

Marion Ali

“It’s all of them, and it’s really bad because you know already, sponsorship is bad. How are you coping now, having to repair that and it’s costing more?”

 

Marina Welcome

“(Sighs) Right now, I’m begging for somebody to at least sponsor my queen costume for me. The total cost of that is only one thousand five hundred dollars. So somebody please, my number is 671-2639. Please help and sponsor and get the kids off the street. “

 

The Association President also appeals for the assistance from the business community towards an event that a lot of people enjoy watching.

 

Patrick Thompson

“Without Carnival, there’s no September. So, like I would say to everybody, please come out, support these bands, all the little grocery stores in the different areas that these bands practice. Give them that little support, because like, in Creole we say, “one, one okra full basket” and all the support that these bands get will be gratefully appreciated.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.