NCBA honours mas veterans

SEVERAL veteran masqueraders, mas builders and designers, as well as steelbands who consistently produce Carnival bands, were recently honoured by the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA). The Carnival interest group handed out the awards during their Christmas luncheon last Saturday at the Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s.

NCBA President Owen Hinds, in his remarks at the start of the function, announced that in 2010 the group will be introducing fund-raising programmes to assist medium, small and mini Carnival bands. Hinds said interest groups could not rely solely on government subventions and had to “look outside” for funds for mas bands that need financial support. He appealed for support from the mas fraternity.


Recipients of NCBA awards included veteran masqueraders Roland St George, Noel Taylor, Florencia Reuben and Augustine Telesford, mas designer Follette Eustace, Carnival announcer Mervyn Telfer and steelbands bpTT Renegades, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars and Starlift. Singers Laureston Special and Garvin Rogers and the band Just Friends provided entertainment at the event.

                                                                                                                                              Veteran announcer Mervyn Telfer, left, accepts his award from NCBA vice president David Lopez....