Philipsburg:--- A large number of troops and bands lit the streets of St. Maarten on Tuesday during the Grand Carnival Parade 2013. A Grand Parade named Chippie's Grand Parade pulled a number of businesses who participated in one way or another. The largest troop that lit the streets up was Brenda Wathey's troop, "Wild Indians". One of the things Wathey depicted in her troop was a number of small toy guns and one would be curious as to why Brenda Wathey chose to use weapons such as guns in an activity she participated in year after year. Other toy weapons that were carried by some of the revelers were hatchets. Former Minister Franklin Meyers, his brother Toochi Meyers, UP Leader Theodore Heyliger, Marcel Gumbs, Michael Ferrier, and Judge Rene van Veen formed part of the Brenda Wathey Troop.
Chippie UTS, Motorworld, GEBE, Sheer Restaurant and several other businesses including Alberto Brooks from French St. Martin all had astounding troops that started off at St. Johns. The revelers jammed from St. Johns Estate through L.B. Scot Road on to Bush Road, then turning by Vlaun & Sons towards Front Street to Emmaplein then back to the Pondfill before they headed towards the Festival Village. Police Officers were seen in numbers trying to control the thousands of onlookers that flocked the streets to get a glimpse of the revelers and the troops. The Grand Carnival Parade began just after 10am and by 6:30pm all the troops were in the Festival Village where the official judging took place.
Click here to view more photos of the 2013 Grand Carnival Parade.