Saturday, February 7 2009

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Marlene McDonald ...

TOBAGO’s preparations for Carnival 2009 have left the Culture Minister of Community Marlene McDonald highly impressed.

McDonald said she, along with officials from her ministry, visited the sister isle last Saturday and was taken back by the high standard of performances, and levels of creativity coming out of Tobago.

“I cannot overstate how impressed I am with the status of preparations for Carnival 2009 in Tobago.

I must commend the high standard of calypsoes coming out of Tobago. We were highly impressed too with RBTT Redemption Sound Setters, a steelband on par with the best of its Trinidad counterparts. I must also commend the fine example Tobago is setting for mas makers nationwide. The advances made in Tobago under the current administration are indisputable,” McDonald said.

The Culture Minister said she was very impressed on her visit to the mas camp led by Gloria Stoute and Associates to learn that the band was 100 percent local.

She said the fabrics and accessories needed to put the costume together were sourced in Trinidad, and the costumes were put together by hand in Tobago.

She said Stoute and Associates must be applauded for this innovation as well as the overall neatness of the costumes and the great attention to detail.

“This Tobago mas band uses indigenous cocoyea and paper to create very realistic feathers.

This way, the mas camp eliminates the need to import feathers altogether. The home-made feathers are so well done that they produce the same effect as bird feathers. This practice is truly worthy of emulation,” McDonald said.

The Culture Minister said she and her team also visited two pan yards while in Tobago. First she visited ‘Our Boys Steel Orchestra’ and was pleased to learn that the steelband had the full support of the surrounding community.

She said during rehearsal neighbours and friends would often come trek across to the panyard to enjoy the sweet sounds of the national instrument.

“This steelband deserves the nation’s admiration.

It is a school, where Tobago youth learn to play pan, ensuring its longevity and giving the steelband an uninterrupted supply of talented, young musicians,” McDonald said.