Masqueraders will have to be cognizant of their behaviour in the midst of all the revellery come Carnival Monday and Tuesday as new regulations have made it unlawful to indulge in behaviour or gestures which are immoral, lewd or offensive.
They are also prohibited from wearing costumes or attire that resemble that of any member of the defence services or from driving or displaying anything that looks like a tank, warship or rocket launcher.
These form part of The Carnival Regulations, 2023 under the Public Holidays and Festivals Act.
The Regulations were approved by Cabinet on Thursday and are as follows:
(a) appear dressed in– (i) the uniform prescribed for the Police Service, Special Reserve Police, Supplemental, City or Borough Police, Fire Service, Prison Service or any unit of the Defence Force, unless the person is a serving member of the Police Service, Special Reserve Police, Supplemental, City or Borough Police, Fire Service, Prison Service or any unit of the Defence Force; or (ii) any costume which may be mistaken for the uniform prescribed for the Police Service, Special Reserve Police, Supplemental, City or Borough Police, Fire Service, Prison Service or any unit of the Defence Force;
(b) portray or represent or appear wearing any costume which portrays or represents, in any manner, any deity of a living religion or portray any event in a manner likely to bring into disrepute, ridicule or contempt any religion practised in Trinidad and Tobago;
(c) throw any substance, matter or thing likely to cause damage, injury or discomfort;
(d) smear or daub on any other person any substance, matter or thing, or with intent to intimidate or to obtain from that other person any money or valuable thing, attempt or threaten to smear or daub on that other person any substance, matter or thing;
(e) have in any public place any exposed flame or any article of an offensive nature;
(f) carry any lethal weapon or any article capable of causing damage or injury, unless that person is a member of the Police Service, Special Reserve Police, Supplemental, City or Borough Police or the Defence Force, and is on duty;
(g) play in any orchestra on the road, unless the name and address of the person and the name of the orchestra are registered in accordance with Regulation 5;
(h) drive any motor vehicle when masked or facially disguised;
(i) travel in any motor vehicle when masked or facially disguised, unless the vehicle is licensed in accordance with Regulation 6;
(j) sing or recite any lewd or offensive song;
(k) indulge in behaviour or gestures which are immoral, lewd or offensive;
(l) carry or use in a derogatory manner the flag or Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago or of any other country;
(m) have in his possession or carry in any band anything resembling a firearm or ammunition;
(n) carry any explosive or smoke-producing substance or anything likely to produce smoke; or
(o) drive or display any vehicle disguised as a tank, an armoured military vehicle, a rocket-launcher, an artillery or a warship.
The Regulation also mandates that the leader of every band–
(a) of more than fifty persons, shall register his band not later than 30th January, 2023, with the Senior Superintendent or Superintendent of Police in charge of the Police Division in which the leader resides and on registration, the Senior Superintendent or Superintendent of Police shall assign a registration number to the band;
(b) shall ensure that his band is identified by a banner on which the name and registration number of the band are inscribed in a conspicuous manner; and
(c) of more than fifty persons, shall produce the certificate of registration of the band at the request of any uniformed member of the Police Service, Special Reserve Police, Supplemental, City or Borough Police.
It states that any person who, during the period of Carnival 2023, contravenes any of these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months.
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