NCC Announces First Citizens as Junior Parade Main Sponsor

Port of Spain, Trinidad, January 23, 2020: “The First Citizens Junior Parade of the Bands is a gift to the nation that we are proud to have and proud to give.  As we forge ahead today, in that spirit of celebration and giving, we look forward to working with First Citizens as we light up the streets of Port of Spain and Carnival City with the smiles of thousands of junior masqueraders.”

Chairman of the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, Winston “Gypsy” Peters shared these words during his address at a media launch on January 23, at the NCC’s VIP Lounge, to formally announce First Citizens signing on as the official main sponsor of the Junior Parade of the Bands 2020.

Before an audience of media members, NCC and First Citizens management and staff, Peters was joined in expressing his optimism by other key feature speakers from both the NCC and First Citizens.

First Citizens Deputy CEO – Operations and Administration – Professor Sterling Frost shared his enthusiasm behind the Group’s latest investment.

“The home of the Greatest Show on Earth - Carnival is also the home of First Citizens and as a truly home grown entity; we are committed to the enrichment and development of our local culture. This strong sense of responsibility to preserve what belongs to us, has driven our decision to partner with the National Carnival Commission, through the TTCBA, as the Title Sponsor of the First Citizens Junior Parade of Bands, for the very first time.”

NCC CEO, Colin Lucas also addressed the audience, sharing information about what to expect from the 2020 installment of the Junior Parade. While no major changes have been planned for this year’s route, Lucas gave the assurance that information would be posted on the Commission’s social media pages and website.

Lucas also spoke about two youth empowerment initiatives that the Commission will be pursuing in 2020.

The first, an outreach programme directed at schools and children’s homes, seeks to bring more young people to Carnival City to see the Junior Parade as it crosses the Big Stage. The second, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and sponsors First Citizens, is a cultural roadshow directed at reintroducing thematic elements of Mas in school by giving them a taste of the more traditional side of Carnival.

Lucas added that they’ve increased the outreach on the previous year from two schools to eight.

The First Citizens Parade of the Bands 2020 kicks off on February 22 from 7 am in downtown Port of Spain and makes its way through the streets to the Big Stage at Carnival City in the Queen’s Park Savannah.

For more information, please check the NCC’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or call at 622-1670.

Sealing the deal. NCC Chairman, Winston “Gypsy” Peters and First Citizens Deputy CEO – Operations and Administration – Professor Sterling Frost shake hands at the end of the media launch and at the beginning of a bright future for both organisations.