By Jermaine Cruickshank XVIBES
The Claude Noel Highway and, by extension, the streets of downtown Scarborough are set to be taken over by thousands of masqueraders as Tobago Carnival celebrates its fifth anniversary. With the countdown well underway, XVibes took a short getaway to see how preparations were progressing at the mas camps and explore what the growing festival means for the island.
When we arrived at the Fog Angels mas camp, the team, led by head of production Keri Sanderson and fellow team members Ariel “The Genie” Zapata and Joanaline Wickham, was busy securely packing the final costumes. Already organised by section, the costumes had arrived safely on Tobago soil well in advance of Carnival. So, not to worry—your costumes are waiting.
Sanderson highlighted the detail behind the band’s Section Seven costume, “Ultra Naughty”, pointing to its wire bra and illusion mesh. The mesh creates a revealing effect while providing coverage, incorporating what she described as “the new trend” into the design. It gives the illusion that the jewels are stuck directly to the masquerader’s body—a look masqueraders will experience for the first time in Fog Angels Tobago’s Section Seven.
And there is more to come. “The Genie” said the band was planning plenty of surprises on the road, and while we tried to get Sanderson to give up a few secrets, she was not letting them out. Co-founder and bandleader Tele Cruz was also on hand to welcome XVibes and, asked about preparations, said all systems were go. As he explained, he is not one for last-minute arrangements, so the J’Ouvert packages and pretty mas costumes, complete with goody bags, were ready for collection.
That readiness extends beyond the costumes. Fog Angels has increased the number of trucks to improve beverage service on the road and, with its J’Ouvert experiencing monumental growth, has expanded its music trucks and service provision to meet the growing numbers. Preparations also extend to its major party events, including the new addition, The Gala, on October 31. The calendar runs from Stink & Dutty on October 30 to J’Ouvert, Sand Jam and The Gala on October 31; Bare Beach and Pretty Mas on November 1; the Beach to Beach Parade on November 2; Wave N Rave on November 3; and The Comedy Fete on November 4.
The importance of having costumes ready came into sharp focus when XVibes raised reports from the recently concluded Miami Carnival, where some bands said they had been scammed and their costumes had not arrived, leaving masqueraders without their costumes. Cruz sympathised with those affected, describing it as an unfortunate situation. At the Fog Angels camp, however, we could see the preparations for ourselves. A perfectionist at heart, Cruz stressed that he is not one for last minute: “Rest assured, all is in place. Tobago is ready and Fog Angels is ready to welcome its masqueraders and put on a Tobago Carnival to remember.”
The costumes, trucks and packed calendar also point to the growing business behind the celebrations—and the opportunities for more Tobagonians to become involved. Tobago Promoters Association (TPA) president Kevon McKenna believes Carnival has considerable potential to create employment and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people. Costume and backpack design and production, he said, remain an untapped market, as he believes most, if not all, are outsourced, leaving room for more of that business to be developed on the island.
That opportunity extends to the vendors and small businesses already responding to Carnival’s growing demands. “Demand drives supply. Over the last four years, I have seen various businesses improve, upgrade and expand to fit the growing needs of Carnival,” McKenna said. Even with that progress, gaps remain in the supply of fencing, stages, lights, sound, tents, tables and chairs. He believes stakeholder groups can help attract investors and service providers to fill those gaps, allowing more of the spending generated by the festival to support Tobago businesses.
For promoters, meeting that demand also means competing within a crowded calendar. McKenna said the ideal situation would be for events to be spread evenly throughout October, easing the concentration within the main Carnival period. “However, we don’t live in an ideal world, and events are based on competition,” he said. “Fortunately or unfortunately, we have ended up with over 20 events on Carnival Thursday and about 16 on Carnival Saturday.” That competition, he believes, will push promoters to bring their “A-game”, even as the festival’s lineup continues to evolve.
One change this year is Jade Monkey’s decision not to proceed with its J’Ouvert event. McKenna said he was unsure of the exact reason for the band’s decision to step back, but hopes they “return to the family next year”, noting its place among the three big mas and J’Ouvert bands. While the immediate focus is on delivering a successful Carnival, he sees the festival’s value extending beyond the events themselves, with the influx of visitors providing an opportunity to showcase Tobago’s food, sites, attractions and people.
That exposure, McKenna believes, can encourage repeat visits, word-of-mouth recommendations and greater visibility on social media. Turning it into lasting benefits, however, will require planning. Looking five years ahead, he envisages policies to guide and protect Tobago’s interests, alongside proper festival management driven largely by the private sector and supported by the Tobago House of Assembly. Such an approach would help the island attract visitors through sporting, medical and religious events as well as Carnival, supporting increased room stock and creating more jobs and opportunities in agriculture, food and beverage, media and other sectors.
For now, the activity at the Fog Angels mas camp offers a glimpse of the work taking place behind the celebrations. As the final costumes are packed and the bands prepare to welcome their masqueraders, the wider ambition is for the energy filling the mas camps, businesses and streets to continue benefiting Tobago long after the last masquerader leaves the road.
