Bacchanal Jamaica Director (and chief reveller)

What are your earliest memories of Carnival Sunday in Kingston?

Actually, the memory that sticks with me is going Christmas shopping downtown and seeing the Jonkanoo. Although this wasn’t Carnival yet, my attraction to playing masquerade probably started from then.

What do you enjoy most about Carnival?

Carnival is true escapism. The music and revelry is really about one thing – enjoying life – and Carnival provides you a brief time to put away all your troubles or even better, to laugh at them.

Dancing through the streets of Kingston as an African princess or a Roman warrior or even just as a spectator surrounded by music and costumes actually transports you, if only for a day (just look at the faces of the tens of thousands that come out for the parade).

What are your Carnival must-haves?

You must have a good pair of shades (read cool-looking) and two pairs of sneakers (one for the paint-up at J’Ouvert). The rest is all optional, except a suitably large beverage container for extended periods away from the road bar, of course.

What would you do if you were mayor (of Kingston) for a day to improve the revelry on the roads today, Carnival Sunday?

I would designate an entertainment free-zone in an area of Kingston where the Government could earn revenue from renting venues all year round and then reinvest that into broadening and diversifying Carnival as a magnet for Kingston tourism. (If you don’t believe that’s possible, try to rent a hotel room in Kingston during this Carnival weekend).

And the last bit of soca music that stirred your soul?

Call On Me – Allison Hinds and Jah Cure or, some would say, Jah Cure and Allison Hinds.

What are you listening out for today, Carnival Sunday?

Anything by Machel and Destra (they still rule), Faye Ann Lyons and of course, Ding Dong (if Jamaica had a road march competition Holiday would win hands down!)

Which cologne are you currently splashing?

Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren (classic) or Aqua by Bvlgari.

What’s your preferred Carnival beverage?

Anything our sponsors produce like Appleton & Coke, Smirnoff & Pure Country OJ ,Heineken, Red Bull and Wata!

What was your most memorable post-Carnival meal?

Alloo Pie in Piarco airport (the pepper stays with you all the way back to Kingston), or the curry goat from Abe’s in the Mas Camp.

What are your current projects?

Completing the development of two stunning five-star resorts in the Montego Freeport — the Secrets Wild Orchid and the Secrets St James. Other than that, trying to make some time to get to Crop Over in Barbados.

What upsets you?

Using appointed privilege to exploit those less fortunate.

Name the last three places visited on holidays

Haven’t had the time recently so would have to be Oracabessa for Beach J’Ouvert, Disney World (for the kids, not me !) and Trinidad for guess what?

Share a few places in your Carnival black book:

If you mean special: Chipping down Old Hope Road as the sun comes up over the city during Bacchanal J’Ouvert. Lime Cay for the midweek getaway — Soca @ the Sandbar. Overseas — Breakfast Party in Diamond Vale, T’dad with a 4:00 am start time and The Track (where all the bands practise) in the Savannah during Pan Finals.

What’s your advice to a first-time Kingston Carnival reveller?

Start on Friday and go till Sunday, you can sleep when you’re dead.

What’s your philosophy?

Life Philosophy — Fortis cadere cedere non potest! This can be applied (literally) at Carnival time too.