The Carriacou Parang Festival is a hallmark of the Mt. Royal Progressive Youth Movement marked its 36th year in the festival over a 3 day period.
The festivities began on Friday 20 December, at Paradise Beach in Collaboration with a seafood fest organised by the Caribbean Local Economic Development (CARILED), and ended on Sunday 22 December at the Tennis Court for the Parang Melee Competition, which was the most awaited moment for all.
Over the years, the Mt. Royal Progressive Youth Movement has been consistently successful in their overall planning and staging of this Festival. The organization clearly depicts team-work, strength and unity.
The opening Friday night festivity/Carol Night was flanked by distinguished guests in the persons of Governor-General, Her Excellency, Dame Cécile La Grenade; Hon. Minister Elvin Nimrod, Minister for Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs, Labor and Local Government; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Mrs. Gertrude Niles; and Permanent Secretary for Local Government, Mrs. Bernadette Sylvester.
Hon. Elvin G. Nimrod, at the opening ceremony, reflected on Parang from its birth to where we are at present and the direction it should take in the future.
Mr. Nimrod said that for many years he always advocated that Parang should go beyond just the melee and meet the standard for international market.
Her Excellency, Dame Cécile La Grenade, gave an overview of Carriacou Parang and declared 2013 Carriacou Parang Festival officially open.
The opening night was reflective of the Christmas season as various groups and individuals filled the night’s air with Christmas carols and performances.
The Parang Festival/Bacchanal Saturday night at the Hillsborough Tennis Court saw a sterling performance from Patrice Roberts from Trinidad & Tobago. Additionally, the Sunday night String Band Melee Competition brought the patrons on their feet as they keenly absorbed the contents and lyrics of this year’s “naughty list”.
The results for the String band Melee Competition were as follows:
- 1st – B.B.H. Serenaders
- 2nd – BC All Stars
- 3rd – Camoon Boys
- 4th – Ghetto Youths
- 5th – The Rhythmists
- 6th – Little Boys
A total of six (6) string bands vied for supremacy as Melee Champions. Other prizes were:
- Best Dressed Band – Camoon Boys
- Best Test Piece – B.B.H. Serenaders
- Best Mele Chorus – B.B.H Serenaders
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