Trinidad Carnival 2010 » General

The Mighty Sparrow Is Not Dead, But He Is Very Ill

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:44:32 +0000

Despite persistent recent rumors about his death, Slinger Francisco – more popularly known as THE MIGHTY SPARROW, the undisputed Calypso King of the World – is still alive, but not in the best of health. The living icon underwent emergency surgery on Sunday (July 25), after collapsing at a concert in Maryland, USA the previous day. The 75 year old Sparrow had to be rushed by ambulance to Montgomery General Hospital in Maryland, where he underwent emergency surgery. The surgery came a mere week after a frail-looking, wheelchair bound Sparrow appeared at NAPA Fest in T&T, where he was barely able to perform, and did so from a chair which was placed in the centre of the stage before the stage lights went on.

According to reports, Sparrow (who lives in New York), is suffering from diabetes, which is taking a severe toll on his body. According to Sparrow’s wife, simply walking has been causing Sparrow severe pain over the past month, and doctors in the US have been unable to pinpoint the cause. She reportedly said that she was hoping that the results of tests he had taken recently would shed some light on the precise nature of the affliction soon.

A medical report that was prepared by a doctor who was at hand to assist Sparrow at the Maryland concert on Saturday, stated that he had suffered an acute attack of the right groin while performing at the venue. He was administered emergency care and was stabilised, before being rushed to hospital, where emergency surgery was performed the following day for an incarcerated right inguinal hernia. Sparrow was released from hospital and is reportedly recuperating at a private home in Silver Springs, Maryland.

Culture Minister Describes Trini Carnival 2010 As The Best In Years

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:04:46 +0000

Despite the fact that the carnival bands were much smaller in size, T&T Culture Minister, Marlene McDonald, has described the 201o Trinidad and Tobago two-day carnival celebrations as one of the best over the years. The Trinidad & Tobago Government spent TT$35 million to host this year’s carnival, and Tourism Minister Joseph Ross has said more than 40,000 visitors came in for the carnival (although immigration authorities are disputing that figure).

Highlights and details of T&T Carnival 2010 here.

Countdown To Trinidad Carnival 2010

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:47:59 +0000

With less than one week remaining for the Caribbean’s largest and most anticipated celebration, Trinidad Carnival, the island is abuzz with final preparations for the event. Hotels on the island are at full capacity with thousands of masquerade (mas) band revelers and bystanders eagerly awaiting the highlight of the festival, the parade of the bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, February 15 and 16.

As the final days of Carnival wind down, the pulsating rhythms from steel pan bands echo throughout the capital city of Port of Spain. Ranging in sizes of small, medium and large, steel pan bands can be heard practicing for Panorama, an annual musical competition that crowns the “best of the best” steel pan players, held the Saturday before Carnival officially begins.

For many, however, the highly contested road march song of the year is where the true test of musical creativity comes into play. The island’s talented soca performers vie for the coveted road march “song of the year” title. Decided by popular vote, the winning song will be chosen on Carnival Monday and then used as the festival’s anthem on Carnival Tuesday. Leading contenders for this year’s crown are JW featuring Blaze with Palance, Blaxx’s Hunting, Faye Ann Lyons with True Lies and Machel Montano’s No Behavior.

Carnival countdown would not be complete without the kings and queens costume competition, held at Dimanche Gras (Big Sunday), the official start to the two-day cultural celebration. During this night of competition, mas band leaders parade across a stage in elaborately designed costumes that often weigh between 50 and 200 pounds, reach up to 30 feet high and are usually attached to wheels, making mobility easier for the brave soul who will spend the next 48 hours in it parading and dancing in the streets of Port of Spain. Thousands of revelers dressed in ornately feathered and sequined headdresses and matching brightly colored costumes will join the band leaders for the parade of bands, the culmination of the festival, on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Source: South Florida Caribbean News