Police Commissioner Says J’ouvert Mainly Incident-Free as Thousands Celebrate in St. John’s

Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers told state media that Monday’s J’ouvert celebrations were mainly incident-free, with only a handful of people taken into custody for allegedly having weapons in their possession.

Jeffers said members of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda worked alongside the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) to maintain security throughout the early-morning festivities in St. John’s.

The Commissioner commended revellers for what he described as clean fun on the streets, noting that the relatively peaceful celebration represents a positive departure from previous years when J’ouvert activities were sometimes marred by violence.

Sixteen bands participated in this year’s J’ouvert, filling the streets of the capital with the pulsating sounds of soca and calypso.

Masqueraders, including groups reflecting Antiguan, Dominican and Vincentian heritage, danced through St. John’s in a celebration reminiscent of the first morning following emancipation in 1834.

The participating groups ranged from some of the largest bands, including Brewmasters, Caution and Chattabox, to smaller groups such as Earth People and Hairouna.

Thousands of revellers and spectators converged on the capital for the festivities, which form a major part of Antigua Carnival.

Police maintained a visible presence throughout the celebrations, with Jeffers praising the public for largely cooperating with law enforcement and helping to ensure a safer J’ouvert.