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Shari Williams of NICH told us more:

Shari Williams - Communications Officer, NICH
"We have it organized in such a way that it's going to be smooth sailing, one after the other, hence the reason why we couldn't have 40 performances. That is why we had to cut down to 24, but I anticipate a night filled with a lot of dancing and cheering. We understand that people from out-districts are bringing buses to cheer on their favorites. So we invite everybody to come out. We're looking at Supa G - first time he's participating, and we are excited about that. We have Berne, Ernestine Carballo, Shanelle - a new comer named Shannelly - Boss Lady, Gareef Valentine - for Carnival Alone. And then for Patriotic, we have whole different 10. We have Silas, who is the reigning champ from last year. He's coming to defending his title with a new song, and a whole new line up."

We'll switch over live to the Song competition as soon as tonight's news is finished...

Southside Masqueraders Do It Up

But before we do that, we'll take you to last night's Mas Camp.

It was the senior's turn last night and the Southside Masqueraders turned up the music, the energy and bacchanal madness. It was quite a scene at their camp last night and we were there:

Pauline Bradley - Designer, Southside Masqueraders
"This year, our theme is under the Atlantis. Group #1 is King Triton, which he represents our reef. King Triton is our protector of the Atlantis. Group #2 is Queen Ariel; she protects the coral and the fishes, all the animals and sea creatures in our reef. And Group #3 is Queen Ursula; she is the wicked witch, which represents the oil that will destroy everything in our reef."

Marsha Smith - Southside Masqueraders
"Well as usual, Southside Masqueraders came out 2002. Since 2008, we're haven't come out back, so for 2 years we rested. So I think that we are back in full strength and force, and to take back 2008 competition. Southside Masqueraders have dancers, love, fun, happiness within our families. And our group is always like a family group. We are always looking to go out on the Boulevard and making it a beautiful, successful day, so that the Belizean public can see us doing good things. It's true that we have a 100+ members, but we are one band. From within ourselves, we don't practice, we don't work out. We go out in full force and we always come out on top. God Bless us. What I know about, and what I know now, it's hard time we're going through. And it's hard to get sponsors in comparison to other years. Sponsors will always be a problem to Carnival, and I don't see why. I think that the business people should push for Carnival some more, because Carnival is very beautiful for the September. We will see 10th, 21th, but nothing like Carnival, that you get that spirit. I love you Belizeans; come out and see us do our best, and like I said, we have dancers, creativity - you can't mess with us. We love you, Belizeans."

The Mas Camps continue next week.

Calling Writers, Artists, Musicians, Intellectuals

And from the visceral pull of that high energy street event to the cerebral air of an event planned for the ninth September.

KREMANDALA is organizing the first conference of Writers, Artists Musicians and Intellectuals - known as WAMI.

YaYa Marin is doing the advance publicity on this event and she told us what to expect:

Yaya Marin - Coleman - Public Relations, WAMI
"We will have a gathering of a mix up that you don't usually have, when you have these kinds of gathers. You tend to have a lot of people who are academically trained. We will have combination of both: people who are academically trained, and grass roots people who have life experience and knowledge base. We will come together as one. So we will have writers, artists, musicians and intellectuals. One of the purposes why this is important, especially around this time of the year, is because we have to have a discussion about Belizean business, from that particular group of people. Because historically, it shows that particular group of people: writers, artists, musicians and intellectuals - they take the reality of people from their community or their country, and express whether in writing, artistically, musically, or by verbally expressing whatever it is that they are trying to tell about the people in their reality in a framework that people can relate to, that gives people hope. So that when you look at it, listen to it, or dance to it, you connect to it, because it's a part of your reality."

The event will be held on the ninth September...