By PETER GREEN
FINALLY!
The prize-giving ceremony for the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Bands Association, finally came off on Wednesday evening at the VIP Lounge at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
How come?
Well, this ceremony normally takes place in April or May each year.
What is the reason for the delay?
Although President of the Association, Mark Ayen, made no mention of it at the ceremony, it was all because of the delay by the Ministry of Culture and Community Development to release the subvention to the association. Various interest groups got their cheques last week. As a result, prize-giving ceremonies were held to hand out trophies and cheques to the winners.
Ayen, a Commissioner on the National Carnival Commission (NCC), had been patient, but last month, he and Beverly Ramsey-Moore, President of Pan Trinbago, jumped out and expressed disappointment at the delay.
But on Wednesday night, it was all smiles.
Both the Senior King and Queen of Carnival, walked away with $400,000 each. Curtis Eustace, who portrayed Spirit of D Maraye, managed to successfully defend the crown he won in 2025. That gave him 11 King titles. On Wednesday night, apart from his winning King title, he was also presented with an award for his Contribution to Mas.
Roxanne Omalo secured a hat-trick of titles following back-to-back victories in 2024 and last year, bringing her record haul of titles in the Carnival Queen competition to five. Her winning costume in 2026 was “Duchess of the Dark Skies”.
The Lost Tribe picked up the prize for Senior band of the Year. The Lost Tribe also got the prize for Overall Band of the Year with “Island Circus”. K2K Alliance and partners won the Medium Band of the Year prize, while Tribal Connections Cultural Promotions won the Small Band category.
Junior Bisnath, from San Fernando, was presented with a special award for his contribution to mas. Remember on Republic Day, Bisnath, a moko jumbie/wood artist, received the Humming Bird Bronze Medal from President Christine Carla Kangaloo.
