European invasion in TT - UK lottery too
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2004

By CHARLEEN THOMAS Newsday TT

THERE is expected to be an European invasion in this year's Carnival celebrations. Besides the presence of a crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), European nationals, some of whom are on the organising committee of the World Steelband Festival, and involved in steel orchestras from Sweden, Northern Ireland and Switzerland are expected to be present.

A statement from the Trinidad and Tobago's High Commission in London stated that the BBC crew, which will include Trinidadian Giselle Morley, is expected to produce a film featuring Carnival on both islands. However Tobago will be the main focus of the production. As an added feature, there will be the historic drawing of the UK lottery here in Trinidad on February 28. That draw usually attracts a viewer ship of 7.5 million. TT's High Commissioner to London, Glenda Morean-Phillip together with Sandra McIntyre Trotman, Evans King (Counsellors), and Ashton Forde (Attache) will attend the live screening at BBC Television Centre in London. Morley is a past student of Mucurapo Girl's RC and St Francois Girls' College and is the presenter of the UK lottery draw on Wednesday's and Saturday's on BBC1.

On the pan side of things, President of Steelpan European, John Foster, is expected to be here in Trinidad for Carnival. He will be accompanied by Public Relations Officer of the organisation and Chairman of the British Association of Steelbands, Trinidadian Pepe Francis. Foster, chairman of the organising committee of the World Steelband Festival, which is scheduled to take place in London from October 24 to 30, and Martin Grah, another member of the committee who leads the Extempo Steelband in Switzerland and who will be here for Carnival, are also scheduled to meet officials of government and Pan Trinbago.

Terry Noel, leader of London's BT Melodians, is also expected to head a small steelband from Northern Ireland for the season. The players are students of St Patrick's Boys' Grammar school and they are scheduled to attend a workshop organised by Arima Melodians, as well as participate in a concert to be staged by the People of Praise in Arima. Another steelband from Sweden, led by Lisa Berglund is already here in Trinidad to partake in the celebrations. They are expected to play on the road on Carnival Monday. Berglund is also a member of the organising committee of the World Steelband Festival.

Also scheduled to be here are Sonny Blacks, chairman of the Commonwealth Arts and Cultural Foundation and Russell Henderson, a veteran carnivalist and steelband exponent. Blacks has staged several Carnival Extravaganza shows in all the major cities in the UK and Europe. While Henderson is said to be one of the pioneers of the steelband movement in the UK and Europe and played a pivotal role in the inception of the Nottinghill Carnival.

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