Dear Editor,
IS that it Hits and Jam? That’s the million dollars question I asked just after the revellers and music bands passed by during the just-concluded Carnival event.

Heading towards the Kitty Roundabout, my first expectation was to hear the loud sound of music from a distance, but unfortunately it was not so. That, to me was the first negative signal. Upon arrival, it was my least expectation to witness a small number of revellers, marshalls and some onlookers gathered around waiting for the event to get kick-start. Nevertheless, I ventured off to have my independent coverage of Kodak moments, photos taken and the reception received from the revellers was warm and cooperative. Some even asked if I was with a particular media house which I responded in the negative.

I was blown away to witness a Jamaican national carrying her flag in the mix of everything. I never thought Jamaicans are so deep with soca road parade. I was totally off. I must add that this particular reveller was well-spoken and she knew how to work the lens of the camera while striking her vogue poses. I subsequently departed that venue because of an emergency phone call and relocated at another.

I thought perhaps it will give everyone time to get fully organised and more revellers will join in for the event to get kick started. I was wrong with that because it was actually the same faces of persons I took photos of earlier. They were all bunched together behind the Pulse music band and the others behind the second music band. Of course I know what road and party entertainment is, but my expectation was that each of the individual costume which I believe were five in total from advertisement, would have been separated and be behind a different music band. It was not so.

I understand Machel Montano was in town and had a show at the Providence Stadium the night before, and I left wondering why didn’t the organisers persuade him to join in the road parade and belt out some of his hit tunes. Perhaps Machel Montano don’t come that cheap and it was way beyond the organisers budget to contract him for the day’s event. As for the local performers such as Jumo, Brandon Harding, Big Red, Vanilla, Kwasi Ace etc., why weren’t they contracted for the day parade to join in with their respective entertainment?

So, Jumo was a no show at Mashramani and Carnival 2018 and I always expected him to be at either of the two events, to belt out his current hit tune ‘HARDER’ for the local market. I hope this performer has something even harder, come 2019. Absent were government agencies and corporate Guyana. What the hell happened there? The thoughts came to mind. Perhaps the government of the day will never have its agencies participate because in doing so, it will overshadow the Mashramani event which they cannot afford to risk. Perhaps with the current economic situation, corporate Guyana stayed away and some might consider joining in the Carnival 2019. That is if it materialises.

Hits and Jam, you need to return to the blackboard and contract some expertise with Carnival event planning. I make reference only to the road parade aspect apart from all other events. Again, I am not sure if it will materialise for 2019.
Take it or leave it…

It will be wiser that you return to merging with the government of the day with your participation during the annual Mashramani celebrations as the entertainment section which you have done in the past. In doing so, you can still hold on to being the show stoppers. No government of the day will ever allow any other event to overshadow the national event of Mashramani.

Regards
Trevor Pemberton