I never thought that I would be playing in a band for Carnival with all the ungodly behaviour and lack of decent costumes, but this year all that changed. Along with my communities, friends and neighbours, I participated in our parish's Carnival celebrations, held at the Brazil High School on Sunday, January 30.

Our band, "Abstinence Awareness Channel, Reality TV" comprised candidates from Brazil/San Rafael Confirmation Group spreading an important message about a new revolution, "ABSTINENCE". Our band won the best band title.

In our band there were three sections the first two were designed by ourselves, "The Invaders" represented the sexually transmitted diseases; and "Looking for Trouble", unsuspecting revellers and the public. The third section, "Pure & Heavenly" represented the people who choose to be abstinent thus reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies and STDs. Mr and Mrs Neville Aming designed this section.

The boys were dressed as Roman guards, and the girls as angels in full-length gowns with wings and tiaras. Our three costumed Archangels, Michael, Raphael and Gabriel guarded us all.

Mundo Nuevo Community also took part and their "Pajero Bird" band was colourful and the children, adorable in their bird costumes. Incidentally, the Pajero Bird Band from the Mundo Nuevo RC School paraded on Carnival Friday in the NCC Regional Carnival Committee's Traditional Mas Festival.

This is the second year that the band has impressed Port of Spain in the festival along with sixty-five other schools. The Pajero Bird Band had been extinct for about forty years and was restored last year by teacher Joseph Naipaul and the school.

Brazil Community won the Ole Mas competition with their hilarious band "If ah Hook", but there was keen competition from "Rich Land of Plenty" and "Trinidad Ole Tork and Cricket!"

The calypso competition was keenly contested with eight parishioners vying for the crown, hoping to dethrone the reigning Parish Calypso Monarch, none other than Fr Michael Moses.

Fr Michael Moses delivering his winning performance. Photo: Sandra Ramharack

This wasn't to be, for Fr Moses stunned the crowd first with his dramatic entrance dressed as one of the Patriarchs of the Old Testament, Moses, and with his song Creation Plan together with placards and personal musician Ricardo, Father retained the crown.

Kervin Preudhomme, our confirmation candidate came in second with a beautiful calypso Abortion . Mrs Garcia and Jodie Ragoobarsingh in placed third and fourth respectively.

We all had a wonderful day but most of all we enjoyed every minute of preparation for this event e.g. making banners, head pieces etc. As for me, I was happy to be a part of something so creative and full of good clean fun.

A special thank you to Glen Guevara who worked so hard with a few helpful hands in the maintenance section, before, during and after the show; Eula Lake for decorating the stage; Lucy, Lynn and team in the refreshment section and all those who supported in anyway, a big THANK YOU!