From as early as Boxing Day, soca had replaced Christmas music on the airwaves. And long before that the banner for Queen's Royal College's second annual all inclusive Carnival fete had been mounted outside the school. Cheques for the Old Hilarians fifth annual Carnival Fete were being paid, I noticed at church services, for tickets which are usually like gold dust. And from mid-December I was receiving calls from the organisers of Trinity College's second annual all inclusive.
Three secondary schools which will be subsidised for yet another year by these very popular fund-raisers which started long after the University of the West Indies had taken the initiative with an all inclusive that has now reached zenith proportions with price, people and party.
Trinity's "SOKA IN MOKA 11" rings in the 2001 season on Sunday January 7 from 3 to 10 p.m. at the Moka College. Having joined the fete fray in 2000, Committee Member, Heather Garcia, says "we have stayed at $175.00 with secure parking and the same good food and drinks. In our first outing Trinity attracted a good crowd but we didn't make too much money, yet we decided to leave the price as it was to encourage people to have a good time. And already people have been asking for tickets from which the profits will be used to continue to outfit our library and computer room."
Blue Ventures, obviously the Carnival party band, with Ronnie Mc Intosh, Surface and D.J. Hurricane George will provide non-stop music. Tickets are available at the College 629-2078/0973, Kenneth Oliver 625-6743 and Garcia 622-6767.
"Outta De Blue 11" follows on Saturday January 20th from 4 pm to midnight at the College Grounds, Queen's Park West. "The first in 2000 went well from a fete point of view" says Ainsley Mark, chairman of the Q.R.C. Foundation. "It was very enjoyable and we had about 1750 people, for a first try, who enjoyed themselves." The Blues have raised their price from $175.00 to $200.00 because costs have gone up, Blue Ventures with Ronnie Mc Intosh and Sanelle Dempster, Charlie's Roots with David Rudder, D.Js Hurricane George and John Gill, and World Wide Pan Around the Neck Steelband should attract the hoped for 2,000 patrons.
The fete, says Mark "is simply one of the ventures to raise funds to assist in the college's recurrent expenditure. QRC is a government school and the Ministry's subvention is quite low so the fete just helps to keep QRC going."
The organisers offer good food, great ambience, nice people, plenty space, good security both inside and outside for vehicles, and the promise that even if it does rain, there is a large paved court so you will not have to party in the mud. Tickets are available at the College through telephone 622-0630 and from members of the committee. Not much needs to be said about the UWI Endowment Fund's 11th annual grand z'affaire which comes off January 21 at the St Augustine Campus. A fete which had a branch on October 7 at the Miami Carnival.
Victor Cowan, secretary of the UWI Development and Endowment Fund, explained that "the major objective is to give bursaries and scholarships to deserving Trinidad & Tobago students, although since we fund other projects like the new indoor sports facility, it means that not only nationals benefit from the fund." The entrance to this fete where Johnnie Walker Black and other premium liquor is served and guests are welcomed with Brandy Alexander cocktails, has stayed at $325.00. Non-stop music throughout from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be provided by Blue Ventures with Ronnie Mc Intosh, Charlie's Roots and David Rudder, D.J.s Hurricane George and Crosby Sounds, and Worldwide Steelband which says Cowan "will lead the people away from the fete. They jump their way to their vehicles." Tickets are still available from 662-2002 Ext 2096 and 2326. Christmas and Elections seemed to have gotten in the way of this fete for which tickets are usually sold out way in advance "but those are now behind us" says Cowan.
The Old Hilarians Fete follows on Saturday January 27 at Bishop Anstey High School Grounds, Keate Street entrance, from 4 p.m. to midnight. Many will remember the small crowd and resultant small profit from the first attempt in 1997. But says Diane Shurland, chairman of the Fete Committee "we had decided that our standard was going to be the highest so we gave people high quality food, drink and music and those who came had a good time. By 1998, aggressive advertising and 'word of mouth' marketing brought a sell-out crowd which continued to 2000."
In 2001 the price has been raised from $200.00 to $250.00 because the Fete Committee works with a strict budget and no donations from corporate citizens. "If we have to get a stage, we pay for it and must budget down to chairs and tables. Needless to say if people offer we will not refuse but we will not solicit" says Shurland "because Vision 2000 is the school's major fund raising drive at the present time, and the centralised fund raising committee alone is allowed to approach corporate citizens for donations."
"Because we pay for every thing, our expenditure comes in very high, and we try to give people a quality fete with a lot of food, premium drinks and live bands, Blue Ventures with Ronnie Mc Intosh and Traffic, and D.J. Richard Simply Smooth. To keep our standard, overheads get higher and higher, and we will never compromise to make a large profit although a lot of people told us we are giving away for what we are delivering." Tickets are available from any Committee Member or the school 623-6591.
Another very important factor contributing to the increased ticket price is that construction of Anstey Building must start on February 1, 2001, earlier than planned because last October's earthquake caused evacuation of another of the school's antiquated buildings to the new Environmental Science Building. So far no money has been received from government for construction and the funds from the Carnival Fete will help to get the building off the ground. "The Old Hilarians need to contribute earlier and more than the $100,000 as in past years" says Shurland.