St. George’s, February 17, 2011 (GIS) – Spectators at Grenada’s 2011 carnival could have the opportunity to view the parade of bands from bleachers along the side of the street.

Spectator bleachers are used at carnival in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, and Senator Arley Gill wants them for this year’s Spicemas.

The Grenada Culture Minister explored the possibility of borrowing the bleachers at discussions held recently in Port of Spain with Trinidad’s Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Winston Peters, who is popularly known as calypsonian Gypsy.

“The bleachers in Trinidad are used around carnival season and after that, they are collapsed and put into containers for safe keeping until the next year,’’ Sen. Gill told the Government Information Service (GIS).

“We believe that we can use those same bleachers and then return them to Trinidad. The minister did indicate positively that he would consider the proposal. We are now at the stage where we’ll have to follow up to ensure that the assistance that we asked for is realized.’’

While in Port of Spain, Sen. Gill also lobbied for assistance for Grenada in the areas of pan tuning and costume design and construction, in meetings held with Makandal Daaga, Trinidad and Tobago’s Cultural Ambassador to CARICOM; and Kenny Da Silva, chairman of the country’s National Carnival Commission.

Daaga, who visited Grenada during the recent independence celebrations, said he was impressed with the events, especially the Cultural Fiesta in Grenville, St. Andrew, on February 6.

“He applauded the Cultural Fiesta and said that he has never seen anything like that. He wanted information on how we delivered on those activities so that he can make some suggestions as to how Trinidad can embellish their own independence celebrations,’’ Sen. Gill said.