The Carnival J’ouveey and road march have been postponed pending the outcome of Hurricane Felix. But all is not lost. On Friday night – the King and Queen contest went off without a hitch. It was a big night, big as in the costumes and the number of entrants. 7NEWS was there and Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
On Saturday it was bacchanal time at the Marion Jones Stadium. The bleachers were filled with fans and with energy. There was even a marching band in the stands and extra security – in the form of BDF soldiers and police officers. The show went on with a hitch. There were four categories and more than 25 competitors. The junior queens were the first on stage.
Amanda Taylor, Sunshine
Masqueraders
“Hi I am Amanda Taylor and I am proudly representing the dynamic Sunshine Masqueraders.”
Monisha Stewart, Jump Street Posse
“My costume is Lola, the Goddess of peace, love and vibrance so Belize stop the violence and give peace a chance.”
Alexis Palacio, Black Pearl
“My costume is about a white angel in the form of a spirit. When in the nights you hear howls, you know that Queen Issis is there.”
Khadjiah Tun, Jump Street Posse
“I am Octavia the goddess of life. I look down upon Belize and pray
for peace.”
Tun was the last of the five competitors for junior queen. The junior kings were next – there were 4 competitors.
Anthony Carballo, Black Pearl
“I am King Maximus, he is a ruler, he used to be a king but he was a bad king so then he got stoned to death so now I am representing the spirit of King Maximus.”
Akeem Gill, Jump Street Posse
“My name is Akeem Gill and I’m in Jump Street Posse. My costume is about the Eraser. My costume is the Eraser.”
The last of the junior king contestants was 15-year-old Ashmand Wiltshire from Mahogany Masqueraders, the defending junior champion.
Ashmand Wiltshire, Mahogany Masqueraders
“I am Sun Shushu, the king of life and I spread my ray of light over
the beautiful Caribbean sea. As you can see I have the coconut tree which represents the Caribbean.”
Keith Swift,
Who made the costume?
Ashmand Wiltshire,
“Well we worked on this costume the whole of last night. I actually didn’t get any sleep, it was straight through up until now.”
And while Ashmand hoped for a back to back win – his older brother Herbert Wiltshire was hoping for his first win in senior king category.
Herbert Wiltshire, Eternity Mas Band
“I am the ruler of the night. I’ve been participating for like eight or like nine years.”
Keith Swift,
First time as king?
Herbert Wiltshire,
“Actually well first time in the senior category but definitely not the first time.”
But to get to first place, Wiltshire’s ruler of the night had to stave off these kings from Jam Jam and Jump Street Posse.
Jason Belisle, Jam Jam
“The costume is full white representing peace and unity also for the full white…it is the first time I am king.”
Keith Swift,
You think you’ll be able to dance with this out here?
Jason Belisle,
“Well looking around tonight, I think I have it tonight.”
Delbert Quilter, Jam Jam
“I’m Zeus representing the ruler of the skies and the universe.”
Keith Swift,
What work went into making this costume?
Delbert Quilter,
“A lot of work. Many days, many
nights, no sleep, no eating – just work.”
Sebastian Nunez, Southside Masqueraders
“This right here is representing King Chaos. It is all about destruction and everything happening in the land that is negative right now.”
Jesus Caceras, Jump Street Posse
“My name is Jesus Caceras and I am representing Jump Street Posse.
My costume is condom city and we are trying to send out the word to prevent HIV/Aids.”
Justin Gill, Jump Street Posse
“I am Justin and I am 17 years of age. I am representing the angel of death. You protect yourself against HIV or I will come and get you.”
Jesus Caceras and Justin Gill are two of the seven queens and kings competing this year for Jump Street Posse. Marina Wellcome is the band leader.
Marina Wellcome, Jump Street Posse
“I have a total of seven Keith because I am doing a junior band and I am doing a senior band and the junior band’s theme is stop the violence and give peace a chance. Then senior band is live and let live, protect yourself against HIV and Aids. I chose the theme to stop the violence and give peace a chance because right now every year Jump Street Posse mourns. I couldn’t attend the funeral for Junie Balls today and a couple of years ago it was for Sherwin Requena. I wish this message would go out and people will understand that you need to stop the violence and do give peace a chance. And for the senior bands, it is live and let live.”
The first of Wellcome’s senior queens was desire.
Crystal Archer, Jump Street Posse
“Every time you see shine is not gold. I will lead you into temptation.
I am Desire.”
Shauna Anthony, Jump Street Posse
“I am Shappire the goddess of love. Well as we know every man’s weakness is, besides his stomach, is a and without a woman he cannot love but we’re projecting HIV/Aids and protection and so forth. So we’re just trying to emphasizing on love and staying with one partner.”
Wellcome’s Desire and Sapphire went head to head with Eternity Mas Band’s Kimberly Vernon. She says making her costume wasn’t the only thing she did to prepare.
Kimberly Vernon, Eternity
“I am representing the queen of the sun. It took about two full days to make this costume…I am ready. The hard work and time I spent at the gym, I hope it pays off.”
Sophie Smith, Southside Masqueraders
“I am representing Queen Imani.”
And while Sophie Smith did her all – so did Albert Hendy and Paula Smith from the Hattieville Hot Peppas. This was a first for both of them. And that’s the spirit that carried out throughout Saturday night’s show - because after all – that is the spirit of carnival.
Jump Street dominated the night winning junior queen and senior king, in addition winning ultimate king and queen. Junior king went to Mahogany Masqueraders while Mother Nature’s Creation won senior queen.
