Bermuda Carnival. Carnival time in Bermuda. Hmm. I never thought I would ever hear those two words together. Almost like saying Bermuda snow or snow in Bermuda.

For many, many moons, Bermudians were told that we should have nothing to do with the Caribbean and that the Caribbean was a bunch of Third World countries that Bermuda could learn nothing from.

The closest we came to any form of Carnival would have been during the Bermuda Day parades of the 1980s when Mr Choy Aming and others did their best to recreate Trinidad-style costumes and steel pan bands.

Over the past ten to 15 years, thousands of Bermudians have been making their way to the annual Trinidad Carnival. Slowly but surely, they have become addicted to the pulsating sounds, the rhythmic dancing, and the hypnotic atmosphere that comes with endless fetes.

It was prophetic, if not inevitable, that sooner or later they would want and demand that Bermuda had its own fetes.

• Passion Posse

Under the firm guidance of a group we shall call “the Passion Posse”, Bermuda Carnival was conceptualised and meticulously planned out.

Commencing tonight on Front Street, there will be an endless supply of events right up until Monday.

This organisation has pulled together a tremendous feat designed not only to bring Bermudians together but, as importantly, to encourage tourists to join in and create an annual signature event.

Almost every person I have spoken to has stated that they will be either partaking in Carnival or at least going to observe those taking part in Carnival.

Knowing how Bermudians move, once they see hundreds of their friends “getting wossy and whining” they too will free up their hearts and minds and join in the celebration.

In any regard, it will be an epic event for Bermuda.

• Rally Round the West Indies

Bermudians of Caribbean heritage are now proudly embracing their inner spirit and letting go of the mental colonial yokes that tell us to “act more British”.

Let those who are British act British.

We may not be geographically in the Caribbean, but the Caribbean is in us.

We will be rallying around the West Indies.

“Rally, rally round the West Indies; Now and forever; Rally, rally round the West Indies; Never say never.” — David Rudder.