It’s picking up.
National Carnival Development Foundation head Mahindra Satram Maharaj yesterday reported that masquerader registration has picked up a bit in some bands as the two-day national fete approaches.
“It’s a bit better with some increase over previous weeks, but at the same time, there’s still reports of people not coming down (from the US) for mas this year, as compared to previous years,” Maharaj added.
Maharaj spoke amid reports of crowds of “late” arrivals at the Piarco International Airport as they landed for Carnival celebrations.
He said children’s bands have reported an increase in number in recent days.
Today, children take to the streets for their jump-up through downtown Port- of- Spain to the Queens’ Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Maharaj maintained that this year’s Carnival “fever” was of a lesser intensity due to recession and crime concerns and some band leaders had reduced their numbers in some sections.
T&T Tour Operators Association head Lorraine Pouchet also said statistics showed a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in business compared to last year.