Colours and creativity mark Children?s Parade

These children pose for the camera on Sunday before the start of the annual Children?s Parade in Marigot. Some eight troupes from various primary schools around the French side took part in the parade. Photo by Claudette Alexander.

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MARIGOT--If French-side Carnival is vying for the public?s attention against the build-up to that well-known sailing event on the Dutch side starting later this week, children from the French schools certainly got their share of attention in Marigot on Sunday.

� The Children?s Parade drew a generous crowd to the town centre, where the first parade of the 2011 Carnival, starting fashionably late as usual, worked its way from Agr�ment to the centre via Rue de Hollande, Rue de la Libert�, Rue Kennedy and back to a finish at Nina Duverly School.

� Eight primary schools hailing from Grand Case, French Cul-de-Sac, Sandy Ground and Marigot, together with some private schools, took part in the parade, which again turned out to be a very colourful spectacle.

� ?We were very pleased with the parade. Very colourful and creative,? remarked Carnival Committee President Jules Joe. ?I expected less participation, but as it turned out, I am very happy and pleased. I want to thank and congratulate all the schools for their efforts. Part of our work is to visit the schools and encourage participation. Children get inspired when they see others taking part and next year we hope for even more participation.?

� Joe declined to single out any particular troupes as exceptional, but noted that the schools had already been invited to participate in the Dutch-side Carnival.

� ?I am not in a position to judge the troupes. We have given eight trophies to the Caisse Territorial des Oeuvres Scolaires committee (CTOS) and they will be making their choices,? he said.

� Carnival takes a breather now until Sunday, March 6, when a parade and musical contest take place in Marigot. There is a US $500 prize for the best musical troupe. On Tuesday, March 8, the Mardi Gras Parade will see $500 presented to the troupe with the best costumes.

� The Grand Parade is on Wednesday afternoon, March 9, with again a $500 cash prize donated to the best troupe. At least five troupes, possibly more, are expected to participate. The Burning of King Momo takes place the same evening to close Carnival.

� Joe noted that earlier Carnival activities had passed off successfully without incident, including two ?wonderful Reggae and Soca shows? on Friday and Saturday evenings.

� ?The rest of Carnival is on track. All that remains is for the public to come out in large numbers and enjoy the parades,? he added.

� French-side Carnival is organised annually by L?Amicale du Personnel de La Collectivit�. Its main sponsors this year are Chippie, Coors Light, St. Martin Tourism Office and the Collectivit�.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/14256-colours-and-creativity-mark-childrens-parade.html

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