NEWS

SAINT LUCIA CARNIVAL 2022 WILL BE A VAXXED MAS

Saint Lucia Carnival is on! A government statement revealed that Carnival will be held on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July 2022 under the theme ‘The Vaxxed Mas’. Everyone participating in the carnival - including masqueraders, vendors and revellers - must be fully vaccinated. Adhering to all Covid-19 protocols will ensure there’s a safe space in which the public can enjoy the festivities.

It has become imperative to bring the carnival back, said the Hon Dr Ernest Hilaire, Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information. He explained, "As a carnival enthusiast who has been a part of Carnival for the past 15-plus years, it is critical that we continue to build on the hard work that was started by persons who have brought Carnival to where it is now. We must also ensure that we preserve the public health of Saint Lucia while creating economic activity for our people to benefit from. "Carnival is also a major part of our tourism product, which sees thousands of visitors coming to our shores to enjoy our island and its wonderful experiences. Those in the creative industries use the Carnival season as one of their avenues to showcase their talents, so we must continue to provide that platform to do so. It is even more important now after the almost two-year hiatus."

The Saint Lucian government will announce detailed safety guidelines in due course, after consulting with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

NEWS

GRACE FOODS UK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

Grace Foods UK celebrated its 100th year as the leading Caribbean foods supplier by partnering with British soul music radio station Mi-Soul. The anniversary was also marked by the unveiling of a music sponsorship deal for the company’s Encona sauce brand, which now comes in nine flavours.

Grace Foods UK’s campaign was aired on Mi-Soul throughout the anniversary week, which began on 7 February. Four Encona-sponsored music mixes were played daily on primetime shows hosted by DJs George Kay and Ronnie Herel.

Lovers of Grace Foods’ drinks, sauces and groceries had chances to win food hampers on each day of the campaign, while the grand prize was a seven-day all-inclusive holiday to Jamaica.

Marketing manager Vandu Patel said:,“Our campaign with Mi-Soul Radio is the perfect partnership and a great way to mark the 100th anniversary of Grace Kennedy, as well as promoting their iconic sauce brand, Encona.”

Founded by Grace Kennedy, the brand has been in business since 14 February 1922. Its products are available in most UK supermarket chains, including Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Tesco.

• SPECIAL EDITION

GOLD LABEL

GRACE JERK BBQ

SAUCE AND

DUNN'S RIVER

JERK SEASONING

MACHEL MONTANO THRILLS CROWD AT MAHA SHIV RATRI 2022

Trinbagonian Machel Montano joined yogi, mystic and visionary Sadhguru at the Isha Yoga Centre in India on Tuesday 1 March to celebrate Maha Shiv Ratri 2022. The festival welcomed millions to a spiritual experience aimed at helping them to bond with their inner self and connect with Shiva.

After spending seven months participating in a yoga programme at the centre under the tutelage of Sadhguru, Montana serenaded the renowned yogi to Dance With You, and performed his newest single with Marge Blackman, Touch The Ground.

The latter is from the Save Soil Riddim, produced by Monk Music Group and DJ Private Ryan, and is part of the Conscious Planet campaign to save our soil from extinction.

NEWS

TRINIDAD SOCA LEGEND BARON IS HONOURED WITH A STREET NAME

Soca legend Baron, aka Timothy Watkins, has received recognition for promoting the culture with his music. The Penal / Debe Regional Corporation has renamed Bay Road in Bamboo Village, La Romaine, Trinidad to Timothy Watkins Street.

This recognition was accompanied by a citation from Palmiste / Hermitage Councillor Roland Hall and councillor for La Fortune, Sheldon Lal. Commenting on the initiative, Hall said, "Someone in the area stated that as a country we keep naming things after noteworthy citizens after they have passed on. Thus, the individual recommended that we should name a street after Baron, who was born in La Romaine and grew up in Bamboo Village."

Baron, the 2016 recipient of the national award the Hummingbird Medal Gold, will be celebrating his 74th birthday on 26 March 2022 and marks 51 years in the entertainment industry.

The ‘Sweet Soca Man’ has a back catalogue of songs including Sweet Soca Man (1999), Don't Go (2009), Pom Pom Shorts (2013) and Sweet Man (2018).

GRENADA'S SPICEMAS MAKES A COMEBACK

The Hon Yolande Bain-Horsford, Grenada’s Minister of Culture, made the welcome announcement on 22 February that Carnival will take place this year.

Bain-Horsford declared that the return of Spicemas will mark the preservation of Grenadian culture whilst also mitigating the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus.

Revellers are expected to be vaccinated well before they attend Spicemas 2022. It will take the form of a blended carnival, with in-house and virtual audiences, and will be held from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 August.

For more updates and information visit www.spicemasgrenada.com.

NEWS

GREEN LIGHT GIVEN FOR VINCY MAS 2022

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Prime Minister Hon. Dr Ralph Gonsalves indicated on 26 January 2022 that the government is willing to go ahead with plans for Vincy Mas 2022, after suffering a two year Covid-19 imposed hiatus.

Gonsalves appeared to be using the prospect of the reintroduction of the carnival as an incentive for the population to get vaccinated, saying that this is one way to ensure it happens. They aim to vaccinate 70% of the island's 80,000 over 12’s, and will be launching a vaccination campaign over the next two months.

Hon. Gonsalves added, “And people are doing it with churches on Saturdays and Sundays, but healthy carnival activity is perfectly normal. And if the priests could play mas, who is we?"

The Carnival Development Committee held a press conference on 1 February, announcing that they were giving a platform to artists and performers, and would facilitate the safety of all patrons as well as a successful carnival. They stated further that the mas will be held in Covid-19 safe zones scattered across SVG.

Mas bands have received a green light to design costumes and prepare for the carnival. If everything goes as planned, artists and revellers will once again take centre stage to entertain patrons with music, dance and art performance, as well as some delicious cuisine.

Vincy Mas is expected to take place on 4 and 5 July, with the carnival size determined by the rate of vaccination by that time.

• VINCY MAS

PHOTOGRAPHER | CALVIN M JONES

NEW SAINT LUCIA HIGH COMMISIONER FOR LONDON

H.E. Mr Anthony B. Severin, is the new High Commissioner for Saint Lucia to the United Kingdom. Mr Severin takes over from H.E. Mr Guy Mayers.

NEWS

KES PUSHING SOCA’S SONIC LIMITS IN GRAMMYS GLOBAL SPIN

Kes has become the first soca act, and the first from Trinidad & Tobago, to come on board the newest digital performance series for artists around the globe: Recording Academy’s Global Spin.

Commenting on Recording Academy’s choice of a musical act from Trinidad & Tobago, Shawn Thwaites, genre manager for global music, said that Kes is “the most innovative band coming out of Trinidad and Tobago", and went on to say, "Kes is pushing the sonic limits of soca and calypso.”

Every fortnight, Global Spin features a performance from a notable artist or group, showcasing the creator and their home country. The episodes can be accessed via Recording Academy’s official YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

With their new single, Jolene, Kes enjoyed what became the final performance with long-time keyboardist and musical director Ricky Bobby (Ricardo Rameshwar), who tragically passed away on Tuesday 1 February.

Global Spin is the new home for global music on www.grammy.com, the official website of the GRAMMYs and the Recording Academy.

MARTINIQUE CARNIVAL TAKES A NEW ROUTE IN 2022

Martinique Carnival in Fort-de-France officially got underway on Sunday 27 February this year, and concluded on Ash Wednesday, 2 March.

Although it was in the same city as last year’s event, the festival was moved outside the city centre; the six kilometre route had finally been agreed upon on 19 February 2022.

The new route began in Sainte-Thérèse, paraded along the wide Maurice Bishop Boulevard, passed through the port and returned to the starting line at Dillon Stadium via the RN9 main road.

Now-familiar Covid safety protocols were strictly enforced during the celebration.

NEWS

CALYPSO IS BACK IN TOWN!

As Covid restrictions finally retreat from our lives, London’s calypso-lovers have reason to celebrate: ACASA’s fabled London Calypso Tent is ready to rise, Phoenix-like, out of the ashes of the past two seasons.

For two evenings this month, Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 March, fans of 'the first music of the Caribbean' can head to The Tabernacle in Powis Square, W11 2AY, to enjoy the best in UK calypso and soca. Be there by 7.30pm.

Artists include current UK Groovy Soca Monarch Ms Desire, reigning UK Calypso Monarch G-String, Tobago Crusoe (of Paddington Bear fame), Alexander D Great, Batch, Brown Sugar, De Admiral, DeeVine, Helena B, Lord Cloak, Muffinman, Musicman, Rev B, Soca Kidd and SunDivas. MCs will be the inimitable Martin Jay on Thursday and DJ Supertrini Vibes on Saturday.

Advance tickets cost £10 for one night, £18 for both; on the door they're £15 for one night, £18 for both. Senior citizens can pay the advance price on the door; under-16s go free.

ATLANTA DEKALB CARNIVAL 2022

After a postponement last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant issues, the Atlanta Dekalb Carnival, organised by the Atlanta Carnival Bandleaders Council and Atlanta Carnival Entertainment, will return in 2022.

The festival promises to be ‘The Hottest Carnival in North America’, and is described as a familyfriendly event filled with international and local artists, food, drinks and other side attractions.

This year's carnival will take place on 28 May 2022, Memorial Day Weekend, at Stonecrest, Georgia.

For tickets and more information visit www.atlantadekalbcarnival.com.