CayMAS Carnival limits T-shirt costumes on parade route Loop Cayman Islands

Black Immigrant Daily News

CayMAS Carnival is limiting the presence of T-shirt costumes on the parade route.

In a statement posted to social media, the organisation said while it is not banning T-shirts, a costume band cannot have a T-shirt section that comprises more than 30 per cent of the band’s total registered participants and only up to 175 shirts sold.

According to the terms and Conditions, solely T-Shirt Bands will no longer be permitted to register/participate with CayMAS Carnival.

A fine of $5,000 and/or the removal from the parade, will be enforced with any financial losses placed on the band for incompliance with the Costume Policies of CayMAS Carnival.

The organisers said this is necessary to satisfy the demands of spectators who prefer colourful costumes of which they can take pictures.

“We have created a product that can compete with the top Carnivals within the region as a true Carnival Tourism Destination since inception and look to stride to higher levels and institute superior standards within CayMAS Carnival,” the organisers said in the statement.

“We have taken another step towards this by implementing a very thought-out Terms and Conditions plan. In this Plan, the main point to note is the removal of full T-shirt Bands as participants in future CayMAS Carnivals.”

They said carnival is first and foremost about the colours, vibrancy and flair of costumes and feathers and spectators and the majority of participants want to see costumes showcased on the Parade route.

They said while spectators appreciate T-shirt sections as a part of the experience, they have expressed that it removes from the carnival masquerade experience because they want to see what bands are bringing for that specific year in costumes and to be able to take pictures with masqueraders in costume.

“CayMAS Carnival is aiming to create a delicate balance between the expectations of our Bands and masqueraders, and our spectators and sponsors when it comes to the presentation of our Carnival parade. We look forward in continuing to create a Carnival full of colourful, vibrant, beautiful Carnival costumes with lots of feathers and other creative backpacks, attracting more and more Carnival travellers to our shores for many CayMAS Carnivals to come.”

For more information on the CayMAS Bands Terms and Conditions, visit www.caymas.ky.

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