[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E603-E604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CARNIVAL IN THE U.S. VIRGIN 
                                ISLANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                           of virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 2002

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to commend the people of 
the Virgin Islands on occasion of the fiftieth year of Carnival in the 
U.S. Virgin Islands. This yearlong observance is an important and 
historic time for all of us because not only is it Carnival's Golden 
Anniversary but also is an affirmation that our culture is vibrant and 
strong. This Golden Jubilee promises to be one of our grandest 
celebrations, the one currently taking place this week on St. Thomas 
and the Crucian Christmas Fiesta on St. Croix in December which will 
complete our year-long observance of Virgin Islands culture at its 
finest. The road to this Golden Jubilee was long and difficult 
surviving over the years with the help of so many talented minds and 
hands that have made this all possible.
  Impressed with a Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1911, Adolph 
``Ding'' Sixto brought the idea back to the Virgin Islands and became 
the inspiration of the first St. Thomas Carnival that was held on 
Valentine's Day February 14, 1912. A Carnival King, Valdemar Miller and 
Carnival Queen Cassilda Durbo reigned over that event of pomp and 
pageantry. Carnival revelry included donkey, bicycle and boat races, 
greased pig catching, greased pole, confetti battles, Dixieland 
plantation life, comedic skits, a regal torchlight procession and 
masquerading throughout Charlotte Amalie. This event was repeated in 
1914 with the royalty being King Lt. Knudsen and Queen Amie LaBeet.
  Unfortunately, with the advent of World War I, Carnival came to an 
abrupt halt. Inspired by Albert ``Happy Holiday'' Halliday, an 
editorial by Ruflis Martin in the Virgin Islands Daily News 38 years 
alter, suggested the need to revitalize Carnival. Radio personality 
Mango Jones (former Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress, Ron DeLugo) 
echoed the call to ``Let's have a Carnival.'' A committee headed by 
Eldra Shulterbrandt put together the first revitalized festival. The 
focus was on the parade of Masqueraders led by a cavalcade of men and 
women on horseback adorned in uniform procession.
  That day and for years after, Carnival started out from Frenchtown. 
This particular Carnival and that first Road March was the frame from 
which the novel ``Don't Stop The Carnival'' by Herman Wouk emerged. The 
Book of the Month Club made it a featured selection; it received 
critical acclaim from the New York Times and because a national 
bestseller. Carnival royalty that year were Leo Sibilly and Carmen 
Nicholson. In those early years, royalty was selected solely on number 
of votes sold. By the 1960s, a competition to judge poise, grace and 
beauty replaced the votes sold criteria. Since 1952, Carnival Queens, 
and in some years, Kings, reigned over this large and colorfully 
cultural event.
  Road marches were introduced in 1952 when amidst heavy rain, the Duke 
of Iron, a Calypsonian from Trinidad and Tobago, spot-composed and 
started to sing Rain Don't Stop the Carnival. Like a contagion, 
everyone took up the strains and braved the weather to the song in the 
mile-long procession. Many of the revelers were in paper type colorful 
costumes that were ruined by the heavy downpour. the high spirits of 
these masqueraders were not dampened by the rains. It only served to 
driving them forward into 48 years of Carnival.
  Though the first steel band came to St. Thomas in 1949, Casablanca, 
Hell's Gate and Bute Force steelbands came in from nearby islands, 
Antigua and St. Kitts to participate in the revived Carnival in 1952. 
It is from these groups, the first local steel bands including the 
Lincoln School, the Molyneaux All Girls and the Charlotte Amalie High 
School (CAHS) Shooting Stars steelbands were organized. Names like 
Lezmore Emanuel and Alfred Lockhart are pioneers of the early local 
steelband movement. By the 1970s, steelbands had diminished to the 
extent that by the mid 1970s, through the efforts of Glenn `Kawabena' 
Davis, Bingley Richardson and his troupe Cavalcade Africana, steelbands 
such as the Harmonites, Superstars and Halycyon were brought in from 
Antigua. For several years, as many as four steelbands were hosted each 
Carnival season in areas on St. Thomas such as Polyberg, Frenchtown, 
and Mandahl. By the 1990s, through the effort of former Presiding Judge 
Verne A. Hodge and the Virgin Islands Territorial Court sponsored 
Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra, steelbands made a dramatic return 
and dominated Carnival in the 1990s more than in any other decade.
  The Prince and Princess were made a part of Carnival Royalty in 1953, 
the first being former Governor Roy L. Schneider, M.D., and Dr. Gwen 
Moolenaar. On a few occasions, there were only Princesses. The Carnival 
Village, like the Food Fair, became an institution of Carnival by 1957 
serving up a plethora of delicacies and cuisine representing the ethnic 
diversity of the Virgin Islands. In this same year, Carnival was viewed 
as a Virgin Islands festival when Crucian, Melba Canegata was crowned 
Queen of Carnival. The village was first in the parking lot directly 
south of Emancipation Garden. It has been in Lionel Roberts Stadium, on 
the Waterfront and since the early 1970s, it has been housed in the 
Fort Christian Parking Lot where 39 booths are placed offering an 
unmatched variety of culinary pleasure. The Carnival Village stage was 
increased from 22'22' to 40'40. Since 1985, the village has been named 
in honor of someone who has made significant contributions to Carnival, 
the first being Christian's Court in 1985 in honor of Judge Alphonso 
Christian, a former Chairman of Carnival.
  Initially, the Carnival Food Fair was dominated by foods, locally 
grown fruits, vegetables and plants and drinks. Arts and Craft

[[Page E604]]

came later. Since food dominates this event, it is now called the 
``Food Fair.'' This event also gives recognition to persons who have 
contributed to the advancement of Carnival. From as far back as 1987 
persons have been singled out starting with Horatio Millin Sr., a noted 
farmer and fair participant. The Fair was conducted on Tuesdays, then 
moved to Carnival Thursday. In 1996, the fair was moved to Wednesday to 
avoid conflict with J'ouvert, which is held on early Thursday morning 
of Carnival Week.
  The first Virgin Islander to win an international Calypso competition 
was Calypso Bombshell, (Beryl Hill) in 1954 against Caribbean renowed 
artists such as Zebra, Duke of Iron, and Lord Melody. The only locals 
to hold that distinction since are Lord Blakie (Kenneth Blake), 1979 
and Mighty Potter (Cecil Potter), 1980. The local calypso competition 
was conducted sporadically in the 1960's at the then Center Theater and 
later CAHS Auditorium. Names such as Lord Blakie, Mighty Bird, and Lord 
Sausage dominated that period. It was institutionalized in 1973, the 
first sovereigns being Mighty Lark and Ferrari. The current sovereign 
is St. Clair ``Whadablee'' DaSilva. The competition was renamed the 
Virgin Islands Calypso Competition about the mid 1980s and several 
calypsonians from St. Croix have won or were runners-up in the finals 
since their involvement. In the mid 1970s local Calypso tents were 
organized to select through the process of elimination, a field of 10 
finalists for the local calypso competition. Today, almost 100 
contenders perform in several tents hoping to be among the finalists 
and sovereign who holds the distinction of musical hero of Carnival. 
The oldest active Calypso Tent is the ``Sanctum of Wisdom and Fun.''
  The inspirational mono of 1952, now called the Carnival theme, was 
``Roast-a-time & Bamboushay.'' Carnival themes were institutionalized 
in the 1970s. ``Unity in `73'' is the earliest recorded since `52.
  Since 1952, the Gypsie Troupe, founded by the late Gertrude Lockhart 
Dudley Melchoir, and others, as well as the Traditional Indians have 
participated in every Carnival parade. I salute the organizers and 
members of these two long-standing organizations and thank them for 
keeping their tradition going for 50 years.
  One event that has remained popular from it's inception is Brass-O-
Rama, now renamed, ``Band-O-Rama'' to include bands that do not have 
brass instruments. Formally a part of Carnival since 1980, Mandingo 
Brass was. the first winner. This event started utilizing local bands 
but has expanded to involve bands from around the region. What used to 
be called Warm Up Morning when the Carnival was revived in 1952 was 
reintroduced as J'ouvert on Carnival Friday, 1973. The early risers 
would be adorned as in masquerade fashion, cross-dressing and 
sleepwear. Then they take to the streets reveling from 4:00 AM until 
it's time for the Children's Parade. Because the bands would be engaged 
earlier, then subsequently ready themselves to participate in J'ouvert, 
they would be tired to continue on in the Children's Parade. Thus, that 
parade suffered from a lack of live music, J'ouvert was eventually 
moved to Thursdays in 1996 to ensure live music for the children.
  The full week of international Calypso Tents was reduced to two 
nights and the World Calypso King was dropped in 1986. In recent years, 
Calypsonians from across the region can be enjoyed rather than just 
performers from Trinidad. Cultural Night is a free event night that 
goes back to the 1960's where a variety of Quadrille groups backed up 
by the fungi bands performed the seven figures of flat German Quadrille 
and other European dances such as Lancers, Seven Step, Two-step 
Mazurka, Skottiche and more.
  Names such as Magnus ``Mongo'' Niles, Lucille Roberts and Moses 
Baptiste can still be heard rolling off the cultural memory scrolls. 
Today Cultural Night also features Bamboula Dancers, Quelbe, Merengue 
and the highlight is the King and Queen of the Band competition in 
Junior and Adult categories. On this night, the first glimpse of the 
troupe's most elaborate male and female costumes are on grand 
exhibition. The most recorded winners by any adult entry is William 
``Champagne'' Chandler (King) and Arah Lockhart (Queen) and Alrid 
Lockhart, Jr. (Jr. King) and Ambi Lockhart (Junior Queen) in the 
children's category.
  In 1977, our Carnival was graced with the presence of the late Esther 
Rolle of television fame for her role as a strong willed but sweet 
mother in the sitcom ``Good Times.''
  In 1986, in response to Irving ``Brownie'' Brown's call, this author 
started the Quelbe Tramp. It features persons playing acoustical 
instruments such as guitar, ukulele, guiro, triangle, ``donkey'' pipe, 
tambourines, maracas, bottles, cans, and anything that can make 
rhythmic noise. Those who are not playing an instrument, sing as they 
tramp up Main Street. This tramp brings out from senior citizens to 
toddlers in strollers, spanning as many as five generations, dancing 
from Market Square to Carnival Village. It has been conducted on 
Carnival Wednesdays past but now starts around 8 p.m. on Carnival 
Tuesday following the Pre-Teen Tramp. On occasion, steel bands have 
added a level of grandeur to the Tramp.
  In 1989, the Carnival Committee opened its first office after years 
of Operating from trunks of cars of the various Chairpersons, or from 
the workstations of the Chairperson of a given tenure. Today, an 
Executive Director with an Administrative Officer who coordinates and 
facilitates the efforts of the 29 Committees and activity centers of 
Carnival mans the office. The Virgin Islands Carnival Office is located 
on Kronprindsens Gade in the heart of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Since 
the establishment of this office, it has become the authority on 
revising operating procedures throughout the Caribbean. On any given 
day, a number of phone calls would be made to this office from other 
Caribbean committees seeking ways to improve the way they function.
  The Virgin Islands Carnival's greatest impact was realized when the 
sequel to the movie ``Weekend At Bernie's'' was scheduled to be filmed 
entirely in the Virgin Islands and they wanted a Carnival scene. The 
Carnival parade scene which lasted over five minutes of the final 
scene, was a spirited climax of the movie titled ``Weekend at Bernie's 
II.''
  Fifty years later, Carnival is still the single largest display of 
all aspects of Virgin Islands culture. This Golden Jubilee is a 
celebration of our struggles and triumphs as a people, and a sign that 
there is much more pageantry, creativity, camaraderie and tradition to 
be seen and to share with the rest of the world. May God bless the 
Virgin Islands of the United States of America, our Nation and us all. 
Happy 50th Carnival Anniversary!

                          ____________________