Brooklyn community leader Hazra Ali has described as very successful last Friday’s Stakeholders’ Behind-The-Scene Carnival Tour of mas camps and steel pan yards in Brooklyn.

Trinidadian-born Ali told Caribbean Life on Tuesday that the tour was convened in partnership with the New York Police Department (NYPD) Brooklyn South Patrol Bureau.

“It was very well attended by members of WIADCA’s (West Indian American Day Carnival Association) executive committee, members of the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Consular Corps, several judges, Brooklyn electeds and community leaders,” she said.

“The purpose of the tour is to shed light on behind the scene preparation for the big Labor Day Weekend, and to leave the young people that are playing pan with words of encouragement and inspiration from some of the distinguished guests,” Ali added.

Hazra Ali with Monique Chandler Waterman and cast from the Jouvert Band 2J & Friends. Photo by Karen Gray

She said Trinidadian-born Justice Wavny Toussaint and Consul General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the United States Rondy “Luta” Mc Intosh, a soca artiste himself, spoke to the youngsters at Metro Steel Orchestra, as they practiced for the Panorama Competition.

Ali said many of these young pan players are elementary and high school students.

She said the tour also visited a J’Ouvert band, 2J and Friends; Sesame Flyer mas band; and several pan yards.

The tour is an annual visit that is convened by Ali, who has been nominated as a Grand Marshal for this year’s West Indian American Day Carnival Parade on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on Labor Day Monday.

“It is very important to encourage the efforts of the keepers of our culture and to encourage the participation of the youth, as they are the ‘Culture Keepers of tomorrow’”, Ali said. “This way, we ensure Caribbean culture lives on, even though we live away from the Caribbean.”