Queens take the Crowne

One could say it felt surrealistic at Crowne Plaza Ballroom on Easter Sunday night when Mahindra Rampersad, assisted by Ramnarine “Molly” Bridgemohan, staged the National Wear pre-judging segment of the 2006 Miss Teen World Pageant. With tickets costing $300, everything was in place for a wonderful night of beauty, fashion and costumes, including a immaculately stocked all-inclusive bar, delicious hors d’ouvres and good music; everything beside an audience.

Of the 33 countries expected to present delegates just 11 were represented, a couple from as far as Ukraine and South Africa.

In addition to the 11 beauties parading also present were reigning Miss Teen World, Puerto Rico’s Haydil Rivera Escobales, and finalists for the 2006 Miss T&T India Pageant and Mr T&T India Contest.

Doing a head count and excluding judges, hotel staff and delegates, no more than 50 patrons occupied the huge hotel ballroom, but despite the small turnout there was a huge outpouring of appreciation for the delegates and guest artistes, including Denyse Plummer and CC TV Vikash Dancers.

The Miss Teen World Pageant will have its climax tomorrow with its Coronation Night at Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

The sisters of Richard Kelly cheer their brother on as he made his way toward a century at Guaracara Park in the Carib Beer International Shield Final between Barbados and T&T. Unfortunately the star T&T allrounder fell short of the ton by seven runs, scoring 93. Photo: Tony Howell

No pan in jazz

All roads lead to the sister isle this weekend for the second edition of the annual Plymouth Jazz Festival, the Caribbean’s largest and most expensive music forum, despite protests from Pan Trinbago over the non-inclusion of pan.

Each day of the three-day music feast, local acts are sharing the spotlight with some of the most prominent artistes in the world.

At this evening’s 7 pm premiere Roy Cape All Stars, Calypso Rose, Maximus Dan, and Shurwayne Winchester & Traffik are billed to perform with Diddy and Doug E Fresh.

Tomorrow’s show is scheduled to begin at 5 pm with Destra and Atlantik lining up with Patti La Belle, Natalie Cole, Toni Braxton and Johnny Gill.

With news of last year’s headline act Stevie Wonder returning, Sunday’s grand finale is scheduled to begin at 4 pm and will feature Sting, Vanessa Williams, Barrington Levy, Najee, Machel Montano and H2O Phlo.

Thousands of local music lovers are expected to descend on Tobago this weekend yet none seem concerned that, despite T&T having some of the world’s best acclaimed pannists, all of who play at prestigious international jazz festivals, not one has been hired to perform in Plymouth.

Tut tut tut; so much for pan being the national instrument of T&T.

Loving our neighbours

Something got stuck in my craw this week that I must get off my chest. Listening to radio commentary in the Carib Beer International Shield Final from Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, I wondered whether all our cricket broadcasters, beside Fazeer Mohammed, had gone to Tobago for the jazz festival in the sister. Beside Mohammed, the entire commentary team comprised of Bajans and Jamaican Simon Crosskill.

I know that had this final been played in Barbados there would not be six Trinis and one Bajan on the air. Anytime something like that happens in Barbados it come as no surprise if there’s a huge outcry among the cricket-loving populace, probably even demonstrations outside the venue.

Then again, maybe it’s just that Trini way of opening our arms to all, even when it means taking a food out the mouths of our own.

I was also peeved that with the most television stations in the region for any Caricom state, T&T was unable to secure television rights, apparently held by CMC, to transmit the final in its entirety. That could never ever happen in Barbados if the Bajans were playing a final.

A football alternative

Just as was done when T&T Soca Warriors played Bahrain at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Trinipulse.com is providing an alternative to football fans when the Warriors face-off against Peru on May 10.

For just $160, Trinipulse.com is setting two jumbo screens at Woodbrook Youth Centre, a stone’s throw from the Stadium, free secured parking, corn soup, doubles and free drinks, inclusive of rum, beer, scotch, vodka, water, soft drinks, and a Special Warrior Punch.

For bookings, call 622-6017.

Legacy goes Point

Popular Carnival mas band Legacy, led by “Big Mike” Antoine and Juliet de la Bastide, is hading to deep south this year for next month’s Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations. A release from the band’s Woodbrook camp stated that the Legacy band at Point’s May 6 parade of costumed bands will hit the streets complete with music truck and popular soca artistes.

The release added that Legacy is offering masqueraders three packages. Package 1, priced at $150 provides a Legacy costume, plus drinks, and security.

Package 2, costing $275, for folks not wishing to wear costume, offers a Legacy top and “pum pum” shorts for ladies, or Legacy t-shirt and shorts for men, and also includes drinks, and security.

The premium Package 3 is pegged at $300, with just a little extra fringes.

Each package comes with transportation to and from Point Fortin.

Costumes can be viewed at Legacy mas camp, located at the corner of Carlos and Roberts Street, or at Brand Specialist in Point Fortin.

Registration is in progress at the Legacy mas camp and at Brand Specialist. Persons who have not registered before May 6 will not be allowed into the band.

For additional information, please call 868-622-7466 (10 am - 7pm).

Designed by: Randall Rajkumar-Maharaj · Updated daily by: Sheahan Farrell