Some thoughts.
1. Why people need to bring they gun and attitudes to these places? Ah mean.. people out here the have fun man. What I hear (me eh read papers).. some fellas start ah skirmish, then shot ring out. A girl (early 20's I think got hit and a guy also got hit. Fella one wasn't so serious, but the girl in intensive care. Then the police (with warning) took the shooter down. Young people need to check the "attitude" at home and not walk rong as if they looking for thing. Is nuff of them I cross, but I too smart to fall into their trap.
2. Caribana is huge and I know it takes a lot of man power and planning to pull it off, but this year was very poorly executed when compared to others
- less police than normal
- use of private security who knows nothing about crowd control and since they not wearing iron on they side, no body eh studing them. As soon as people raise their voice, these "security" people turning a blind eye.. they eh want to get involved. I actually saw them opening up the gates/barricades for stormers.
- as soon as bands pass the 2nd judging point, the bands were overwhelmed by stormers. And paying masqueraders had to deal with real crowds in their bands.
- band leaders must provide better security and protection for their players
- why does every event have to start so late.. king and queen and the parade itself.. not sure bout pan as I still on my way to that one. Stand in the facking sun for 4 hrs before band got the clearance to hit the road and we were the 6th band... had 10 more to go after us.
3. I'm not hating, but hell broke loose when the trucks started the hip-hop thing. Love the hip-hop eh.. but not sure how much we keeping our culture going by not stickin to the soca thing.
4. Stormers... as a youth I was right up in dey, but now as I older (and paying).. I real vex. Spoil the lime for me/us real bad. I still dive into the 'mash" a few times though.. just had to have more attitude than them.
5. why is it every facking person with an official t-shirt (organizer) on, had to walk rong like the they own the thing? Doh even bother asking them any questions.. is real sour face and 2 word answer between the schupes.
6. The abundance of good food (a bit pricey but expected) is a treat and those vendors represented the culinary culture of the islands very well.
7. Band mas in Toronto could be much better, but at the same time as nice outlet if you missed Trinbago carnival. Like the effort the mas men put forward.. just needs polishing up a bit. Their presentations and quality of costumes can rank with any in trinbago.
We left early as we had to be back home to get fresh for wild water kingdom... but on our way out (btw if there was an emergency and people had to be evacuated.. that wasn't happening) we stood on the bridge at the end of the parade route and had to ask ourselves if this thing is just too big now.
BTW.. is the most back-fat I ever see on women in one place oui! I eh complaining .. under that had some nice bubble-nuts.
Yea... and I swear, it had about 10 women to every male in a band. no lie.. in our section we had only 8 fellas I think.. so was like buffet!