And while this weekend saw two violent incidents in the city, the Carnival Road March went off without a hitch - which is no small feat considering the many thousands of onlookers, and the many hundreds of liters of alcohol consumed.
So, while residents may have been worried following the shooting incident at one of the mas camps, the police assured them that they would be on the ground in full force - and that's exactly what they did. Their presence could have been seen and felt - which was what the ComPol told us was their plan. He spoke to us just before the start of the Carnival on Saturday.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I am sure that you have been around and you've seen the presence of the police. We're circling around in full force to make sure that those persons who are out either to participate or are spectators during this carnival event are safe during this time. Myself and all my commanders are out, the senior management of the police department are on the ground with the police men and women to make sure that they see that we're leading from the front and to be able to experience what they too are experiencing on the ground in terms of policing this very important event."
And while the ComPol was leading the charge, his intention was to get the Carnival to Marion Jones and off the streets before the sun went down since the police did see gang elements within the crowd.
