Despite very heavy police presence, the NYPD reported late Monday that at least seven people were shot along the massive West Indian-American Day Carnival Parade route on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway — bringing a sad end to an otherwise grand extravaganza in picture-perfect weather.
As millions of spectators and hundreds of thousands of masqueraders and revelers converged on Labor Day Monday along one of Brooklyn’s major thoroughfares, for the 58th Annual New York Caribbean Carnival Parade, police said a reveler was shot in the leg along the 3 1/2-mile-long parade route, which began at Buffalo Avenue and Eastern Parkway and ended at Grand Army Plaza and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.
As the parade, which started at 11 a.m. and culminated at 6 p.m., was wrapping up, police also reported that six other people were hit by gunfire in separate incidents.
The shootings, though none were reported fatal, marred the pageantry, as millions watched from ubiquitous police barricades, as humongous speakers mounted atop flatbed trucks blasted soca, reggae, kompa, zouk, and other Caribbean music in beautiful, late summer weather.
Feeling the love at the parade
Felicia England, a St. Lucian native residing in Brooklyn, played mas with Suga Candy Mas.
“I love it!” she said, portraying “Forsythia.” “It’s like a kid in a Candy Store. I’m having fun, meeting new friends.”
Nearby, Charisma Springs, another Brooklyn resident who was born in Panama to a Panamanian mother and a Guyanese father, said she was playing with Suga Candy Mas for the second consecutive year.
“I feel great!” she exclaimed.
Julian John, the Trinidadian-born CEO at Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan, said he was bringing a float to the Parkway for the very first time.
“It’s an important opportunity to celebrate our culture,” he said. “It’s a wonderful day.”
Leticia Theodore-Greene, John’s Trinidadian chief-of-staff, said she was also having a time of her life.
“It’s a celebration of us,” she said.
Abena Amory, a musical artiste, the daughter of late Nevis Premier Vance Amory and Vincentian soprano Erlene Williams-King, carried both St. Kitts and Nevis and Vincentian flags.
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate my Caribbean culture,” said the Brooklyn resident, who was born in Nevis, before hopping on a float with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, whose father hailed from Trinidad and Tobago. “I love to celebrate my culture.”
Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Y. Myrie, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, celebrated with labor union members from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn’s UUP, the acronym for United University Professions, the nation’s largest higher education union representing the faculty and professional staff of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
“I love this,” said Myrie, representative for the 20th Senate District in Brooklyn, swaying as a DJ struck up Byron Lee and the Dragonaires’ “Tiney Winey.” “It’s a beautiful time to celebrate our culture.”
Bronx resident Dianna Baker, of Barbadian heritage, portrayed Sesame Flyers’ “Dynasty of Colors.”
“I feel amazing,” she said, participating in the parade for the first time. “I feel great. I’ll do this again. I’m very proud of my culture.”
Guyanese Darlene Price, 54, played “Week of Radiance” with Sesame Flyers.
“I love it,” she said. “I’ve been doing this since 14.”
Barbadian Andre Lucas also played Sesame Flyers’ “Protector of the Carnival Realm”.
“It’s fun,” he said. “I’m used to it. I do it every year.”
Portraying Branches and Associates’ “Nubian Queen”, Trinidadian Sade Walcott, 35, said she has been playing mas since she was 5.
“It’s very important for our culture,” said the Brooklyn resident.
Susan Rodriguez, Walcott’s compatriot, also played “Mama Africa” with Branches and Associates.
“I play every year,” she said. “I’m feeling good.”
As she carried a large costume for D’Midas International, Shire Sebro, 20, who was born in Brooklyn to a Trinidadian father and Vincentian mother, said she was “excited” in portraying “Midnight Empress”.
Haitian-born, Brooklyn resident Mocha Bankz, said she was “enjoying myself,” as she wore a Vibez International Mas costume.
With at least six large Haitian bands on the Parkway and hundreds of revelers in each band, one float proclaimed boldly: “Haiti will Rise Again! God Bless Haiti!”
Ending a celebratory weekend
The Brooklyn-based West Indian-American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), organizer of the annual spectacle, said Monday’s massive parade was the culmination of the Caribbean Carnival Week that kicked off last Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Brooklyn Museum.
WIADCA said it was celebrating “58 years of Caribbean culture, cuisine, programs, contribution, mas, steel band and more,” under the theme, “Vive Le Carnivale!”
Except for Monday’s parade, all festivities took place at the Brooklyn Museum parking lot.
WIADCA said Rum and Music: Reggae Edition started on Thursday, Aug. 28, featuring Teejay, Valiant, Ding Dong and Aytian.
On Friday, Soca Fest featured Kes the Band, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Mical Teja, Raymond and more.
The Youth Fest and Junior Carnival Parade took place on Saturday.
WIADCA said the youth celebrated “Caribbean heritage through their carnival regalia depicting many characters and themes.”
It said live entertainment provided “an end of summer Caribbean talent showcase, with the first-time inclusion of ‘Youth Fest 2024’, highlighting live performances by emerging talent.
Later, on Saturday, Panorama was showcased, featuring “the sweet sounds of steel,” WIADCA said.
It said, among steel pan participants, were New York Panorama 2024 Champs, Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra, Despers USA, Metro Steel Orchestra, Steel Sensation, Pan in Motion, D’Radoes, Pan Alley and Philadelphia Pan Stars.”
On Sunday, Rum & Music: Ultimate Fete took place, featuring Patrice Roberts, Problem Child, Skinny Fabulous and Lyrikal.
On Monday, the grand parade, presented by WIADCA and New York Carnival Bandleaders, showcased “an array of costumed masterpieces, celebrating all Caribbean cultures, music, delicious food and more led by our esteemed elected officials, cultural partners, sponsors, and our beautiful Caribbean community members,” WIADCA said.
It said participating adult bands included Sesame Carnival, Branches Mas, Suga Candy Mas’, Sky Maxx Mas, D’Midas International NY, 1199SEIU Mas, Greenz United, Vibez International, Banboche, We Love Antigua & Barbuda, Rendezvous Mas, D’ Island Hotties, Sak Passe, and I Am Caribbeing.
The parade was preceded by the Annual Caribbean J’Ouvert, organized by the Brooklyn-based J’Ouvert City International, which took place on the streets of Flatbush and East Flatbush in Brooklyn.
