00:00 ARIMA, under the stewardship of its Mayor, Balaram Maharaj, plans to have a bumper carnival.
00:07 We work in collaboration with the Mayor and the Council to ensure that Carnival 2024 is bigger, brighter and safer.
00:19 The celebration starts on Friday night.
00:22 We have, which will be our first, a gospel motorcade through the streets of Arima, starting from Bandi Tile, going all through and ending up by the bus lay-by.
00:38 And that's from 2am to 2pm.
00:46 Pastor Marlon Alvarez, who incidentally is the brother of Ian Alvarez, better known as Bunjee Garlin, tells us more about this alternative to mass.
00:59 This is a very unusual mix to begin with.
01:03 As most of you would be aware, that the full gospel churches, full gospel Christians, generally don't get involved in carnival at all.
01:12 Usually we are out at camp or on the beach or something else instead.
01:18 However, we acknowledge the state of our community and the state of our nation.
01:25 And we have for a long time wanted to play our part in finding solutions, in changing things.
01:32 This opportunity has been presented to us to make such a statement.
01:40 The fact is, he says, not everyone is involved in carnival activities.
01:45 While people are having a good time, we acknowledge that a lot of people are also hopeless.
01:51 A lot of people are looking for answers and literally looking for life.
01:56 And the message we have is that life that people are looking for, that hope that people are looking for, is found in Jesus Christ.
02:06 And that's the message that we want to give.
02:08 Yes, we will talk about anti-crime stuff and living together in harmony and peace.
02:15 But all of that is centered literally in the person of Jesus Christ.
02:19 But whatever you're doing in Arima, Superintendent Bihari assures you will be doing it in safety and security.
02:28 On a daily basis, we increase patrols by approximately 25% over the last couple of days.
02:35 The Carnival Crime Plan dictates that we increase patrols, not just mobile patrols, but foot patrols.
02:41 It's an increased presence of police officers on the street in uniform.
02:45 Here are a few reminders.
02:47 We like to encourage parents to ensure that their children have name tags, phone numbers, and any other relevant information that is necessary.
02:59 In the event that a child might wander off, it will assist the officers on duty.
03:06 We would like to also reiterate the no glass bottle.
03:13 During the Carnival period, it takes effect 4 a.m. on Monday and ends at 12 midnight Tuesday.
03:21 There will be random stop and search operations for persons entering the Arima district.
03:29 And we would also like to reiterate the use of camouflage.
03:33 And Carnival probably won't be Carnival without businessman, turned mayor, Baliram Maharaj, also doing his part.
03:42 I am sponsoring the biggest truck in Arima here at my cost.
03:47 Anybody want to use it for five days.
03:51 Saturday, there's a free function there. Sunday.
03:55 But I would not want to interfere with my friend Carnival.
04:00 But there is police. Instead of people getting in trouble, we have them there.
04:06 When the bans pass, we will turn them.
04:08 We're working together with them.
04:10 So that should answer your question. We must give back.
04:14 The NCC has given the borough $150,000 to get the celebration started.
04:20 And $150,000 will come after Carnival to go for prizes.
04:27 The borough is also campaigning to get private sector support.
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