CATEGORY:CARNIVAL -------------------- INSIDE GRENADA Wednesday April 18,2007 by Wallace J.A ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada: The Ministry of Culture in Grenada organized a mini carnival through the streets of St. George’s city yesterday (Tuesday April 17, 2007). The primary aim of the exercise was to give the visitors to Grenada (for Super Eight matches in the ICC 2007 Cricket World Cup) a taste of the island’s major cultural activity. Various aspects of Grenada’s carnival were on display yesterday as jab jabs, fancy mas and traditional mas bands paraded through the streets and converged on the Carenage. Not only were the local revelers having a good time but Australians, New Zealanders, Sri Lankans and other visitors to the country mingled with the locals and certainly had ‘a ball of a time.’ The mini carnival went on for about six hours and culminated in a calypso and steel pan show which took place in front the Rhum Runner on the Carenage. Organizers are hoping that the function will also help to set the stage for Grenada’s carnival which is coming up later on this year (in August). Harvey, an Australian cricket fan who was at the cultural extravaganza last evening told Grenadian Connection that he has been to three different countries in the region so far and he had never had the sort of fun he was having. “You’ve got a beautiful country here, mate,” he said. “The people are friendly, the food is good and you guys know how to party and have fun. I’m having the time of my life.” Many of the other visitors who were at the carnival were clearly sharing Harvey’s sentiments as they jumped, twisted and gyrated their hips to the sweet, pulsating sounds of the intoxicating local rhythms. The Mini carnival was clearly a huge success and the Ministry of Culture deserves high commendation for the planning and execution of the event.