During the period of World War II (1939-1945), the steel bands that had simultaneously appeared on the scene occasionally stole the opportunity to take to the streets of Port of Spain, especially at night, only to disperse in a hurry , leaving. behind some of their precious inventions. This was to escape arrest for breaching the Carnival Prohibition Order that had been in place during the hostilities.
So overwhelmed were we when, in succession, Germany and Japan surrendered in 1945 that the Steel Belts spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate what was internationally declared VG and VJ Day, respectively. This time there was no police intervention.
A year or two before hostilities, the concept of carnival races was introduced by Ernest Mortimer Mitchell, a private citizen who later became a city councilor representing the residents of the South East Ward. He was elected Deputy Mayor of Port of Spain from 1943 to 1945.
With the lifting of the ban on carnival in 1946, the Jouvert pageant was decorated to include steel bands. This was the first evidence of the organization of steel belt competitions in Trinidad and Tobago unconsciously and at the same time causing public recognition and appreciation of the impact of the steel belt movement on the cultural development of the country. It started with the Ping Pong Solo competition and, in the following year, was further enhanced to include the full steel orchestra. The first to win the Solo competition was Raymond “Fish Eye” Olivierre (All Stars). The All Stars (formerly Hell Yard) were the first to win the Steelbands Competition and did so for several years. Other winners in the solo category included Neville Jules (All Stars), Winston “Spree” Simon (Tokyo), Patsy Haynes (Casablanca) and Ellie Mannette (Invaders). Notable winners in the Best Acting Band category included Casablanca, Tokyo and Invaders.
The annual competitions featured groups mainly from North Trinidad: Ebonites (Morvant), San Juan All Stars (San Juan) Flamingos (Tunapuna), Cross Fire, Blue Stars now Power Stars and Tripoli (St James), Hill Sixty, Waterloo, Red Army, Second Fiddle, Renegades, Desperadoes, Blue Diamonds, Starland and Merritones (Port of Spain), Highlanders formerly Savoys (Laventille), Rising Sun, Dixieland and Stromboli (Belmont), Silver Stars and Boys Town (Woodbrook).
In those days the first prize for the best playing steel bar was a very small silver cup about eight inches high or silver tray of similar medium size. The awards were received with great joy and excitement. They included butter dishes, glasses, plates, cutlery, ice buckets, drinking glasses, tea cups and saucers, ice hearths, bowls, kettles, dressings, a bottle or two of alcohol, etc. Hopefully, some of the silver will be exhibited in the recently opened Carnival Museum.
The first carnival race was held on Nelson Street between Prince and Faure Streets. It later moved to Charlotte Street, next door to the Salvation Army. From there, it moved to Knox Street opposite the old City Hall, finally settling in Marine Square, now Independence Square, opposite the original Salvatori building.
The awards were donated by the business community, many of which are no longer in business. While some donated in kind, others donated money in monumental sums of a shilling (24 cents), a florin (48 cents) or at best a half-crown (60 cents), a lot of money in those days.
I remember enjoying the responsibility of helping to collect the prizes when I was still in primary school, taking turns sitting in front of Salvatori’s to register the participants, helping with the actual competition on the morning of Jouvert.
The competition ended in 1958 with the creation of the Carnival Development Committee by the PNM government, headed by the renowned anthropologist Mr. Andrew Carr. It was handed over to the CDC, resulting in what has now become the highly acclaimed Port of Spain City Corporation Carnival Pageant.
Ernest Mortimer Mitchell’s recognition of his contribution to pioneering Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival development was recorded when the corporation named its 2017 Downtown Carnival Competition in his honour.
The heights of greatness to which steel belt racing in Trinidad and Tobago has risen from its humble beginnings in 1946 must be attributed to the astute leadership of association presidents, individuals of the caliber of Sydney Gollop, George Goddard, Nathaniel Crichlow , Albert Jones, Junior Pouchet, Cecil Hunte, Aldwyn Chow Lin On, Roy Augustus, Bertie Fraser, Melville Bryan, Arnim Smith, Owen Serrette, Patrick Arnold, Keith Diaz and now Mrs. Beverley Ramsey-Moore.
— Author Roy Mitchell is former advisor and special coordinator, National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC)
