Carnival in May as Chocolate City celebrates Point Fortin Borough Day

It's 3:00am - TJJ starts our journey on the South trunk road heading to Point Fortin. The setting... dark, winding roads with trees on either side. 3:50am - we entering the borough of Point Fortin surrounded by oil wells, music trucks by their designated areas, cars/maxis (yellow and red band) parked on the inskirts and outskirts of the town, and last but not least.. people!

Point Fortin constituency was our stop, as this was Chocolate City J'Ouvert band meeting point. This was the 2nd part to their "Threesome Affair" (see coverage). Trucks being stocked with drinks, music warming up the vibe, and bake and shark being served. The J'Ouvert start!!! Rolling out the compound is the music truck in front, people in the middle, the drinks truck and people again. We're not too familiar with Point, so let the tour begin!

The Beginning
Through the back roads of the town we chippin' down the road... chocolate in one hand and rum and coke in the next, the thing nice!! The Mouse Man and First Order Family on the one's and two's pelting tunes like "Tanty Say" and the rest of the Laduma Riddim. It's Carnival and we "Drunk Again". Chocolate spraying all over, and the paint and mud cart on the move as well, surely mixing things up. Surrounded by oil fields on either side, the band kept moving until we met the flora and the Clifton Hill Beach Resort. Perfect timing to stop for that "call of nature", then it was movements again as dawn broke.

Photos By Yohann Govia
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The Climax
From a distance you could see the sun as it peaked through the trees in the distance, we're about to hit town. A little quiet as the band passed the hospital, and then the "BACCHANAL" start. Chocolate City coming down de road ... the music truck cranked to the max with the liner ray speakers pounding. Super Jigga TC on the mic starting the action... sexy girls bumpers pushing back... everybody cup top up with alco... is serious buisness. Carnival in May ... people, music, mud, paint, costumes and boomsessss ... SWANKY!!

The End/Experience
It's 9.30am the sun is up, music trucks all over, girls flexing, man head nice and we in the borough of Point Fortin. Some may say the bacchanal now start, and others would say it continuing, but TJJ say is time to take a flex and hit the highway ... it's a long way to Port-of-Spain. The experience was different as the Chocolate City crew had things properly planned - an isolated route = no stragglers/free loaders. They say Carnival all over again ... parties, blockos, and J'Ouvert!!!! This is Point Fortin's Borough Day!

Next stop for Chocolate City - We on the Parkway for Labor Day, New York!

Signing out,
D' Young Juice

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Related Galleries
Chocolate City J'ouvert 2009
Chocolate City J'ouvert 2k9 Launch

History of Point Fortin Borough Day

At the beginning of the 20th century, (before the discovery of oil) Point Fortin was an agricultural community with three distinct and separately owned cocoa and coconut estates. In 1907, the Trinidad Oilfields moved into Point Fortin on an expedition for the exploration of oil and sank its first oil well on the La Fortunee Estates. The company later changed its name to the United British Oilfields of Trinidad then became Shell Trinidad Limited. In 1974 it was acquired by the Government and named TRINTOC or the Trinidad and Tobago Oil Company, today known as Petrotrin. The Point Fortin people felt they would be better off managing their own affairs. They sought and successfully obtained the decentralization of their area from the St Patrick County Council. On April 30th 1980 Point Fortin was made a Borough. Today Point Fortin is a vibrant borough, home to over 20,000 persons.

The Point Fortin Borough Day Celebrations started somewhere around the mid-eighties. It came at a time when Point Fortin was in an economic downturn. With the removal of Trintoc from Point Fortin, there was a great call-out in the society for job opportunities. At that time, the then council adopted a rather radical move to try to use culture as a means of creating economic activity in the area, and so was born 'Pan on the Move'. The Borough which was inaugurated on the 30th April 1980 hosted thousands of people from all over the country, and around the world as they gathered at the main area to participate in the festivities which started days before this major event.

The day's event began with a number of trucks, which were hardly mobile because of the large following, blasting music on the streets. People danced and frolicked until sunrise and made way for the J'ouvert bands to entertain the by-standers. These bands came from all over the country to play a part in the huge celebrations. After the J'ouvert mas, some participants took a break for a good Saturday meal and a bit of rest from partying. Others continued the 'lime' on the streets or ventured to the bars to eat and drink with family and friends. About four in the afternoon the Traditional Carnival Characters came out in full force along with a more mature crowd who usually pass on the early morning celebrations to enjoy the evening parade and the 'Pan on the Move' section of the celebrations. Many of the major steel bands from all over Trinidad and Tobago were represented. The general success of the Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations should be used as an example for other large events outside of Carnival in the country.

According to the book A History of Modern Trinidad, 1793 - 1962, by Dr. Bridget Brereton