Carapichaima Carnival launched with street parade

Carapichaima Carnival 2025 was launched on Saturday with a street parade along Waterloo Road.

Yert Cyrus Jr, chairman of the Carapichaima Carnival Committee, said the community has been celebrating for the past 78 years.

“We are proud to show our authentic Carnival celebrations,” he said.

Cyrus said the committee has not yet received word as to how much the National Carnival Commission will allocate for the celebrations, but last year, they worked with a budget of $180,000 and distributed prizes soon after.

He noted that Carapichaima is the only region with a permanent Carnival site but the stands located on the western end of the stage needed to be upgraded and the committee was seeking assistance from the NCC or the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) to get the work done.

“The people in the community need to see the importance of keeping culture alive and Carapichaima is the home of traditional mas … what we are about is pure mas. You want to see traditional mas? Come to Carapichaima,” he urged.

Major events leading up to Carnival in Carapichaima include the finals of the Senior and Junior Calypso Competition on February 23 with 15 finalists seeking to unseat the reigning monarchs.

The Carapichaima carnival started in 1947 with a committee chaired by Jagmohan Singh. Subsequent committees were chaired by Jagmohan’s son B M Singh, then his granddaughters Jill and Sue Singh. Other past chairpersons include Mulchan Seuchan, Edward Manichand, Aminola Khan, Lewellyn McDonald and Ann Thornhill.