Friday 08, August-2003

Gwyneth Squires had no “Dark Illusions” when it came to her band winning this year’s Grand Kadooment, and next year will be no exception, she says.
The Trinidadian-born who has been living in Barbados for 36 years is certainly not a comer to calypso festivals, and has been involved in Crop-Over for 21 years, winning over 300 trophies for her outstanding designs.

“I have been in mas’ camps since I was 11 years old. It is something in me. That’s why when I came here to live. I was always interested in the culture,” Squires explained.

Her band this year, Once Upon An Island, racked up a total of eight prizes, including top prizes awarded for Large Band Of The Year, Best Festival Designer and Best Band On The Road. Five hundred and four revellers paraded confidently before the judges in colourful costumes of lime green, purple, white, silver, red, gold, bronze and black, ready for any competition.

But even before the results came out costume designer Squires was confident her band had come out on top.

“Last year when I lost I figured something had gone wrong. I didn’t think I should have lost last year. But this year when I saw all the other bands I said this year was my year!” Squires declared proudly.

Squires pointed out though she was the designer of the band, her successes would bot be possible without her committee and her sponsors.

“I not only had help from people in this area, but I also brought in a crew from Trinidad,” Squires noted.“ I have people who’ve been with me for 16 years; I have some very faithful members.”

Squires told the GROOVE she already had the idea for next year’s theme and was going to meet with her committee members in two weeks to begin preparation for next year’s Grand Kadooment.

“The only thing that could stop me from bringing a mas’ now is health or death,” she stated.

Compliments of the Nation News

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