The Port of Spain City Corporation will officially launch Downtown Carnival on Friday at Memorial Park with the display of traditional mas characters.
During their end-of-month Statutory Meeting, the Port of Spain City Corporation expressed excitement and readiness for Downtown Carnival.
With the assistance of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Mayor Chinua Alleyne assured the public that all efforts have been put forward to ensure safety.
“On our establishment, we have 200 officers; we have maybe about 160 that are in office, and all officers are recalled for Carnival as happens all the time. The City Police service has specific responsibilities for Downtown Carnival.”
In addition to regular Carnival events, the City Corporation is hosting a steelpan competition, Panomania, with a prize of $30,000.
“All the steelbands that are on the move, they come through the Downtown Carnival stage; they perform, and it’s winner takes all. There’s only one prize. We launched it last year, and it was quite successful, and so we want to continue it and continue whatever we can to support in any way.”
Urging the public to follow the order made by the Acting Commissioner of Police regarding transportation, the Mayor explained the focus of the Corporation in maintaining the flow of traffic.
“There was wrecking ongoing in support of the Panorama Semi-Finals activity that happened on Sunday. Our focus, as it pertains to the towing of vehicles, is vehicles that are illegally parked, and in particular for Carnival, there are emergency routes that have to be maintained for emergency vehicles, ambulances, and what have you. So for Carnival Monday and Tuesday in particular, that would be the focus.”