TERRENCE HONORE
JUST LIKE that, I missed the announcement of the Carnival regulations by the Parliament, a measure designed to clean up Carnival. This success of the parliamentary process is commendable, but this is Carnival we are talking about, a time of unbridled revelry.
Trying to control Carnival is like the proverbial saying, "closing the stable door after the horse has bolted." It might be too little too late, but we will have to wait and see.
But when I heard the news I thought it must be a dream. Then I heard a masman complain, 'What they really trying to do to we? Let them clean up Parliament fus'."
As a partial spectator for many years, I looked at the spectacle of the "crazy" season of Carnival with people "palancing" without reason and often wondered when it could ever be gotten under control. This government real brave, yes. Trying to get Trinidadians/Tobagonians to behave when soca starts playing, big truck passing and rags waving in the air.
Then I heard another masquerader say, "Like they mad or what?" Carnival is the "road march" of the nation.
But this is the Government trying to change the tune. Somewhat it seems. Trying to control a masquerader after all the "Brazil wax" done and bikini costume in place. It's a level of intoxication and passion that will not give way to rules and regulations.
This must be a dream, I told myself. I was standing with some people around me. I couldn't see their faces. Some cheered and others jeered when the announcement was made. I was surprised that everything didn't turn to ole mas in the Parliament.
I looked in closer and saw movements on the opposition side. They looked confident with their J'Ouvert-style portrayal of 'It's our time now" and the government benches responded with their reprisal of 'A little storm in a teacup.' Things got hot.
Carnival was alive but must be under control.
Then it was pandemonium in Parliament when the chief whip cracked and the Speaker raised the gravel to charge the Finance Minister and all who didn't want to vote, instructing them to put dey han' in the air!
The "set ah noise" nearly killed me. I laughed at the extempore performances and the pretences of the Members of Parliament as their respective "bandleaders" waved them up to a frenzy.
It was 'mas of class' the day when Parliament passed the regulations to clean up Carnival in the nation.
They resurrected the old rules from colonial times. It was an effort worthy of praise, trying to dress up legislation from old Carnival days. But it all still seemed like a dream.
It's interesting to try to enforce rules to regulate how much people wine with the line "no lewd offensive behaviour" and telling people "no guns and things" like old marines or fancy sailor. Only fancy beads, feathers and glitter allowed. No fussing or cussing, just have a clean Carnival. An oxymoron to the wise for sure.
I guess consideration was given and ideas included from the 1948 listing of rules. But they didn't mention "Don't lose your temper, don't overindulge in in
