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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news1.html

Jail for stormers
Chin Lee moves to protect masqueraders

An “unprecedented security presence”, including heavy army and police patrols and a possible plan to use Amalgamated Security along the parade route, is what Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee has up his sleeve for Carnival 2003.

The Minister yesterday said he will seek public consultation on legislation governing the presence of non-costumed revellers in bands and whether they should be fined and/or jailed.

Minister Chin Lee’s moves are in response to growing concerns that this year’s festival would be a violent one.

It also follows a decision by Prime Minister Patrick Manning to meet with the US ambassador and UK High Commissioner over the pullout of two cruise ships because of the recent increase in crime.

The proposal to charge non-costumed revellers was presented by bandleaders during a meeting with Chin Lee earlier this week.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul and other senior police officers, Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown and National Carnival Commission executives also attended the meeting.

The idea to jail or fine band stormers follows the laws which are already in place in Barbados where non masqueraders face a BDS$5,000 fine (TT$15,900) or six months in prison.

“From what the bandleaders tell me these people come in small groups of petty thieves who harass the masqueraders and make them uncomfortable,” Chin Lee said.

“Once the public agrees with this, I’ll do my best to enforce it.”

Bandleaders Richard Afong of Barbarossa and Mike Antoine of Legends, who are at loggerheads on other Carnival issues, said they would support any law that bans stormers.

“I mean we have to deal with this every year.

“These vagabonds get together, form a chain with their hands and force their way through the band —cutting open women’s purses, stealing their gold chains and terrorising people,” Antoine said.

He added that in his experience of presenting Carnival around the world, a police officer usually accompanies every music truck for Labour Day (in Brooklyn); barriers are put in place for masqueraders along the route for Nottinghill Carnival (in England) and in Barbados uniformed police accompany masqueraders from the stadium to Spring Garden.

“If we are the mecca of Carnival why shouldn’t we do that too,” he said.

Antoine also believed that the banning of stormers would also increase the number of masqueraders as more people would feel safe playing mas.

Afong believes, if implemented, the banning of stormers would separate the sheep from the goat.

“It is physically impossible for the police to keep their eyes on everything. This is one way they would have greater control over the Carnival,” he added.