Carolyn Johnson, Gleaner Writer
Revellers were wet, colourful and 'getting on bad' last Friday at 'Juveca Storm' held at the Student's Union at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies. - NATHANIEL STEWART/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
STUDENTS AT the University of the West Indies (UWI) partied like there were no exams on Monday morning, when they went delirious at "Dutty J'ouvert" on Friday night.
Starting at the Students' Union on the campus, 'Juveca Storm' was the first of three days of 'Carib Disaster', UWI Carnival 06. The carnival is staged by the Guild of Students in association with Digicel and other sponsors.
When The Gleaner team arrived after 1:00 a.m., the upper section of the venue was jam-packed, hot and sweaty. Drinks spilled as people pushed from the bar into the thick crowd to rejoin their friends. Although there was barely space to move, many managed to find enough room to dance and bend over.
Some, apparently feeling confined, bravely climbed frighteningly thin trees, and continued their gyrating. The others below were clueless to the dangers above as the Party Animal Kurt Riley, BassXX and Coppershot kept the party alive. It's Carnival, Roll It Gal, Tek and Tempted to Touch were the hottest tunes for the night.
On the lower side of the union, near the entrance, the second bar was as busy as the first. Here, patrons peeped at the Durex booth while lingering at the Andrews Triple Action booth to collect inflatable batons and drinking bottles. Others chose this empty space to congregate, dance or just sit and wait for the march. Meanwhile, patrons made needed visits to the Nescafe booth. Outside was almost as lively as inside.
Micro was the dress code for the night. Shorts in a rainbow of colours, all styles, all sizes were adorned with merinos. If not, any skimpy top sufficed. Sneakers were the footwear of choice. For the men, T-shirts or merinos with short pants were the general trend. Simple.
PAINTED BACKSTAGE
About 3:30 a.m., the moment most were waiting for, had arrived. The selector announced, "those who want to get painted go backstage." The movement wasn't sudden, but within a few minutes, the union was empty and quiet. Only cups, bottles and inflatable batons were left behind.
Outside, away from the confines of the union, whites became red, yellow, brown or a mixture of these. There was a strong cocoa aroma. As a new level of revelling began, the students got lost in the chant of "J'ouvert". A trance followed which led them behind the mobile pipers.
On Castries Drive, past the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute, onto Gibralter Camp Road, then Shed Lane. Around the Ring Road, left on Sherlock Drive, left onto Gibralter Road and back to Castries Drive, the two pipers led the revellers. The trek was a very eventful one with two fights along the way.
Despite repeated announcements to "slow down" and "stay behind the truck", everybody did their own thing. Persons chatted and laughed as they walked behind the trucks as couples stopped along the way for 'a proper wine'. This became so popular, that most sets pulled to the side to allow the free movement of revellers. Though many persons danced the entire journey, holding onto the truck as they arched their backs, lazier persons simply hopped the truck. While some got a 'bligh' to the union, security personnel hindered others.
When the trucks returned to the union, the sky was clearing but no one seemed to notice or mind. Only when the music stopped at about 6:00 a.m., did the students make any gesture to leave.
