By ALEXANDER BRUZUAL Saturday, February 7 2009

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BIG STAGE: Workmen make last minute preparations on the new big stage at the Queen's Park Savannah. For the last two years, masqueraders have been pla...

Carnival 2009 is fast approaching and according to both Culture Minister Marlene McDonald and National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Howard Chin Lee, Trinidad and Tobago is ready.

This affirmation was made yesterday morning at a media conference held by the ministry to update the general public on the state of readiness of the Queen’s Park Savannah for what has been dubbed as the Greatest Show on Earth.

With the Panorama semi-finals only one day away, McDonald said “the historic big stage is ready. It was completed and tested over this past week..There are only some small touches left to be added before the (Panorama) semi-finals begin on Sunday.”

The Culture Minister said the Queen’s Park Savannah was known to be the main venue for pre- carnival shows and as such it was very important that the venue was ready in time for the Carnival festivities.

She said covered seating for over 5,000 patrons had been built so far, and she was informed that another 10,000 patrons could be accommodated on the greens.

“Also, some 140 vendors booths have been constructed. These vendors have been given the all clear to move in and set up in time for the first event this Sunday. All the booths will also come equipped with electricity and water,” McDonald said.

Chin Lee said he was pleased to report the infrastructure around the Queen’s Park Savannah was already in place.

He said an extra stands had been built within the last two months on the eastern side of the stage, thereby allowing more people to be a part of the “Panorama experience”.

The NCC chairman also explained that, unlike last year, the stage was finished well before the day of the semi-finals, and he did not expect any trouble for the event.

“The stage is complete. It is 136 by 60 feet, which excludes the ramps which are 50 by 60 feet each. We are now also embarking on the facilities which would include washrooms with wash basins in enclosed areas. We also have an artiste area enclosed in air conditioning and outfitted with adequate change rooms and facilities for the artistes who will be performing because we must treat our artistes right,” Chin Lee said.

He added that his commission had increased the areas of bleachers for seating and had also added a very capacious bar. He said by this morning tents would be fully installed throughout the savannah to act as “cool zones” throughout the day, and the flooring throughout the compound was almost completed.

At the press conference, Chin Lee got into the Carnival mood, raising his hands and said “We ready!” “We are ready,” he continued, “We are ready for the semi-finals and we are ready for Carnival 2009.”