Batabano parade stays fresh
One of Fresh Carnival’s leaders, Earl LaPierre Jr, with some of the mas band (Photo by Simon Pitcher)
(CNS Local Life): The 34th annual Cayman Carnival Batabano culminated on Saturday, 6 May, with Fresh Carnival taking home the “Band Of The Year” title for the second year in a row. The band’s theme was “Candy”, with sections titled for different confections. Fresh Carnival scored 262 points for the win, with Tribal Carnival coming in second at only one point behind. Flow, which also won “Spirit of Batabano”, placed third with 251 points.
The judges for the parade competition were John Beckford and Yvette Harris, marketing director and publicist, respectively, of Miami Carnival; and Richard Bartholomew, renowned Trinidadian designer of junior carnival costumes.
Batabano chairperson Donna Myrie-Stephen said this year’s parade was very successful, with about 2,000 masqueraders in 11 bands taking part. The parade wound its way along West Bay Road, from Public Beach to George Town.
“On behalf of the Batabano committee we congratulate Fresh Carnival for winning the Band of the Year title once again, and we also commend Tribal Carnival for making the competition particularly close this year,” she said.
“All of the mas bands did a tremendous job this year and we thank them and their masqueraders, as well as the local businesses that stepped up and sponsored so many of the bands, for helping to make the 34th year of Cayman Carnival Batabano in the Cayman Islands a huge success.”
The Batabano parade was followed by a “Last Lap” fete on the waterfront as well as the Batabano Bazaar and Food Festival, which featured more than 25 stalls selling products and services, as well as food vendors serving up some of the island’s best Caymanian, Caribbean and international cuisine.
Category: Events
