Arima Mayor, Ghassan Youseph and the executive of the Borough Corporation promises the people of Arima a, "Champagne Carnival even if we only have mauby money." This was declared at yesterday's official launch of the 2012 Carnival Celebrations in Arima at the Town Hall, on Sorzano Street.

Youseph said the National Carnival Commission promised to give the Borough Corporation $500,000 for C2K12, which is up from the $300,000 that was given last year. He said he has not yet received the funds and is not sure if the NCC will deliver the full amount promised. Regardless, however, Youseph said the celebrations in Arima will be much better than last year's and even previous years .

Chairman of the Arima Carnival Committee, Councillor Clinton Jennings said one of the new developments of Arima Carnival 2012 will be the use of pan CDs on the music trucks for Jouvert. Asked if there will be any live pan music played on the streets for Jouvert and the rest of the Carnival, Jennings said hopefully pan-round-the-neck.

Asked if using the CDs was a result of the friction between the Arima Borough Council and Pan Trinbago, Jennings responded, "We are trying to work with the panmen to resolve whatever problems there are.

Youseph said the main problem is that Pan Trinbago informed him that he can't approach the steelbands directly to hire them or invite them to participate in any competition if the Borough wanted to host one. The Mayor said this has caused friction between the Borough Corporation and the panmen.

"We are trying to work it out. The dispute if over fees and that we can't deal with the bands directly or request what songs we want to be played. We met with the Minister (Multiculturalism Minister, Winston "Gypsy" Peters) and he assured us he will mediate with Pan Trinbago for us and work it out," Youseph said.

Sergeant Mark of the Arima Police Station said that the police will be working to ensure that the people enjoy a safe Carnival. Mark said the police are taking a proactive stance incorporating community awareness with vigilance. The police will pay particular attention to the areas that are known to be hot spots during the Carnival.

Following the official launch at the Town Hall a music truck followed by traditional Carnival Characters including moko jumbies, jab molasies, and sailors as well as costumed children paraded from the Town Hall to the Arima Promenade where there was a free concert featuring among other artistes; Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Benjai, Jadel, Iwer George and Scar. There was also expected to be steelpan and rhythm sections.