LIME carnival goes for broke in the east

Gareth Davis Sr

Port Antonio, Portland:

Glaring colours, enhanced by lighting, brightened the lawns of the Port Antonio Marina as the music of soca echoed through the nearby hills overlooking the resort town, while hundreds of persons danced the night away.

It was carnival at its best, and from as early as 7 p.m. the writing was on the wall that the Portland leg of the LIME All-Island Carnival, Soca Mesmerize, was going to be big. It was. It was bigger than an earlier All-Island Carnival event at Mas Camp in St Andrew.

"This one is huge," commented Fabian O'Hara of Tri Star Entertainment, one of the promoters of the event.

"We had the launch earlier in Kingston, but I must say this Portland crowd is massive and very supportive. This event replaces what used to be the Byron Lee All-Island carnival, and so far the response has been good," O'Hara added.

According to the promoter, there will be a total of 10 legs for the event, with the next stop being a second staging in Kingston and St Andrew. That event, he said, is also expected to "facilitate the best of Trinidad carnival on March 12".

Though billed as a soca event, it was dancehall's Tanto Blacks, who first brought the place alive. He brought wild screams from the women, who hollered for more of the artiste. In the end, Blacks reached for his wallet and threw, as has become customary for him, two one-thousand dollar notes into the crowd.

The duo Blazer, contestants in the 2011 Dancing Dynamite competition, gave a cameo performance.

And when it was time for the act with a difference, the lights were dimmed. Smoke filled the air as a local resident, better known as Jelly Beans, took to the stage dressed like the legendary singer Michael Jackson. Jelly Beans danced and sang long-time standards like Thriller, Dirty Diana, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Smooth Criminal.

Jelly Beans' act was classy, and during his 30-minute set, cheers and screams echoed throughout the length and breadth of the marina, which overlooks Navy Island à once the home of Hollywood legend Errol Flynn.

Songs including Give Me Soca, Tiney Winey, Feeling Hot Hot, Dollar Wine, Kitty Kat, and Soca Bogle, were among some of the favourites, which had the large crowd wining up a storm, even when the rains came.

The venue was littered with colourful lights, banners, and logos from the many sponsors including Grace, Smirnoff, Pepsi, True-Juice, Tri Star, Red Bull, and Craven A.

"I personally want to thank the patrons for turning out in large numbers," said Sherilla Gordon, also of Tri Star entertainment.

"Without their support this event would not be a success. The efforts by the Portland police should also be lauded, as they too were supportive, and they maintained a heavy presence all around. Thanks to our many sponsors, including LIME our title sponsor," she said.

Portlanders also won a number of prizes including mobile phones, and gift bags.

The crowd faded shortly after 1:30 a.m, after the inclement weather started. Many were sent scurrying for shelter, while others headed home.