Ultimately, Carnival group A'legria was able to continue with a new tractor
WILLEMSTAD - During the Grand March of Carnival 2024 in Willemstad last Sunday, a significant gap emerged between the groups after the police intervened due to issues with the tractor of Grupo A'legria Curaçao.
This incident resulted in significant delays.
A senior police official confirmed that there had been issues with the documentation of Icons' tractor since Friday. The papers turned out to be fake, leading to the order to let the tractor participate in the parade without inspection.
The owner of Icons had even contacted Prime Minister Pisas to arrange a deal so that the tractor could still participate, despite the false papers. However, the police insisted that the law be applied equally as with other tractors, leading to frustration for the owner of Icons.
It is unclear who the owner of the tractor is and who is responsible for the documents.
Stricter Measures
During the Grand March, the checks were much stricter. Each vehicle was inspected for a chassis number, leading to the discovery that the chassis number of Alegria's tractor did not match the documents. Previous parades only verified the validity of the documentation.
Gianni Jansen, the wife of baseball player Kenley Jansen, who had rented the tractor, expressed her frustration over the police decision not to allow the tractor due to discrepancies in the chassis numbers.
Despite the tractor participating without problems in previous parades, the police decided at the last moment that Alegria was not allowed to participate.
Jansen stated that this was the last time she participated in the carnival, pointing to the high costs and restrictions faced by the organizers of Carnival in Curaçao.
Press Release
Grupo A'legria Curaçao issued a press release to clarify the delay. The group explained that the tractor was rented from a local company, and there was a discrepancy between the chassis number and the documents.
The group emphasized their love and passion for the carnival and their commitment despite the challenges. They assured that they had taken all necessary measures to meet the requirements and that, after resolving the issue, they participated in the parade with enthusiasm and positivity.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by carnival groups in Curaçao and raises questions about the strictness and timing of police checks, which can impact the festive atmosphere of one of the most significant events on the island.