f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013

Meet
a Trini
H.E. The President George Maxwell Richards and Rosalind Gabriel
Rosalind Gabriel
Children’s Mas Icon
Rosalind Gabriel
is considered the
matriarch of T&T’s
Children’s Carnival
with over 30
years’ experience
producing winning
Children’s Carnival
costumes and bands
(the latter since 1990). She had earlier
started her apprenticeship under the
watchful eyes of renowned mas man
Wayne Berkely. Some of the most
creative and captivating costumes have
by Nasser Khan
been portrayed in her bands over the
years with such notable presentations as
Fantasea (1994), Côte Ci Côté La (1996),
Panorama (2000), Nah Leavin’ (2004),
Many Faces, One Nation (2007).
She has won the Children’s Band of the
Year competition title an unprecedented
thirteen times along with numerous
victories in other categories.
Love Your Country, is the name of the
presentation for her 2010 children’s
band, depicting what villages and towns
of Trinidad and Tobago are famous for.
Watch for dazzling portrayals such as
fishing seines in Mayaro, mud volcanos
in Piparo and the Buccoo Reef in
Tobago.
Recipient of the 2007 Hummingbird
Medal (Bronze) for Culture, her
gentle demeanour masks her fierce
determination to continue her
contribution to the mas culture of T&T,
particularly in the children’s Carnival
arena—as innovator, designer and masband
producer.
Such is the impact of her contribution
to Trinidad and Tobago’s culture
of Carnival that in addition to the
2007 Hummingbird medal, her 1999
presentation Carnival Time Again, was
chosen in 2003 to be reproduced on a
Carnival postage stamp. Costumes from
her 1994 presentation, Fantasea, were
reproduced for the famed Sea World in
Miami, Florida.
She has been chosen on many
occasions to showcase her costumes
and T&T’s culture to visiting dignitaries
and at special functions. They have
entertained the Vice President of
China, the President of Chile, USA
Congressmen, dignitaries who attended
the Inaugural Gala for the Caribbean
Court of Justice, Prince Charles,
Nelson Mandela, Warren Christopher,
Colin Powell, Caribbean Heads of
Government, and the Prime Minister of
India. Rosalind’s children also opened
Carifesta Games and took part in the
Miss Universe Parade in 1999. In April
2004, she was involved in the welcome
back festivities for cricket captain Brian
Lara after his historic innings of “400
not out.”
Rosalind Gabriel’s talents are
recognised regionally and internationally
as well. She and her dedicated team
produce both adult and children’s
costumes for Grenada, St. Martin, St.
Thomas, Curaçao, St. Kitts, Anguilla,
Miami, Washington, D.C., Brooklyn,
New York and Texas, where these bands
have won their national titles on many
occasions.
Since 1990 she has generously
contributed costumes to the St. Mary’s
Children Home in Tacarigua, ensuring
that the children there have the
opportunity to participate and join in
the fun of masquerading.
Rosalind Gabriel is a true Trini, born
and bred in Woodbrook who has the
culture of TT near and dear to her heart.
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The Ins & Outs of Trinidad and Tobago