Revelers Get ‘Wild-N-Wassy’ In Official Carnival J’ouvert

Everything considered, J’ouvert Morning 2015 was a resounding success in turnout, band performances, people participation and safety.

Today, at about 8 a.m. starting from the Hannah’s Rest Police Station In Frederiksted, massive groups of people started gathering behind three bands for the main J’ouvert Morning festivities: WCK from Dominica, VIO International from St. Croix, and the youngest yet most energetic group, which controlled a large majority of the crowed for the entire j’ouvert, Stylee Band. It was a sight to behold.

Before the event began, Deputy Police Chief Arthur Hector, Sr., told VI Consortium that the people would be warned of the VIPD’s zero tolerance for violence, and said that if there were any brawls, after the second occurrence, j’ouvert would be stopped.

For the event’s entirety, there were three skirmishes, but police allowed the affair to continue until completion at the Romney’s World Village entrance, where all three bands were scheduled to stop.

It was one of the biggest j’ouvert crowds on St. Croix, as thousands of young and middle-aged residents from various nationalities descended on Frederiksted, with hands high, some with boyfriends and girlfriends in tow, going down low, jumping up high — and literally doing everything the bands said to do, as they made their way through the Frederiksted town.

Some revelers brought baby powder to the fête and occasionally released it into the air, temporarily engulfing the surrounding area with clouds of white dust. This occurred throughout the event. Others had bottles of water that they used to pour on crowds, and some groups wore matching outfits as they reveled through the throngs of people. At one point, as the j’ouvert moved closer to the Carnival Village, men could be seen on the roof of a building soaking the people below with water channeled through a hose, however the VIPD quickly commanded the men to stop.

VIPD escorting a young man out of the festivities

The VIPD must also be commended for its exceptional effort from start to finish, working tirelessly throughout the day to keep order, quelling fights and making sure that residents enjoyed themselves in a secure and safe environment.

Everything considered, J’ouvert Morning 2015 was a resounding success in turnout, band performances, people participation and safety. At times, the crowds were so large that it was impossible to tell where it ended. The festivities came to a close at about 12 p.m.