The extremely poor Carriacou Carnival 2K7 is almost an embarrassment to the nation if for no other reason is the disappointment and let down of the thousands of people who flock the island for the grand celebration, coming from the mainland, the region and further afield.
In a sense, the concerns expressed in this column last week was somewhat early - perhaps pre-mature since there are so manyconcerns in the controversy; hence the reason why it is revisited this week.
The attempted boycott of the three or four calypsonians, their failed attempted to hold the calypso Monarch competition hostage should come as no surprise in light of the brawl and violence reported at one of the meetings leading up to carnival and involving the same calypsonians. This, by itself, should have sent a clear signal to organizers that the calypso department of the celebration was heading for a crash landing. The Committee must be complemented for not allowing a complete disaster, but they should have had the foresight to diminish confidence in the men and to debar them from entry into the competition.
The scant courtesy meted out to the two mas bands from Petite Martinique is another heart-breaking disappointment, particularly inlight of the tremendous sacrifices they made in terms of preparation, not least in crossing the familiar seas, and there must have been some form of cost also involved in registration.
If the Committee were so determined to proceed with the calypso show then they should have had the same determination to proceedwith the parade of the bands on the streets.
One calypsonian was “allowed” to make a clean sweep of the Road March, Soca and Monarch titles; so too should the Petite Martinique Masqueraders be “allowed” to make a clean sweep of the titles in that section. Consequently, the Petite Martinique bands are owed a serious heartfelt apology as well as some measure of refunds to cover expenses incurred; all that should come from the Committee which could be the beginning of the healing process for Carnival 2K8, assuming that the Committee is serious about business.
With such grand celebrations, the business community would benefit greatly of profits and they are therefore expected to “put their money where their mouths are” for the success of these ventures. However, it would be unreasonable to expect from them total and complete financing from beginning to end. In other words, the business community as well as all right-thinking persons should expect that the Carriacou Carnival Committee should have some oftheir own finances to “jump-start” the celebrations. This raises the question of accountability generally, and gates and bar receipts of previous years. A full investigation over the years is needed and is urgently called for.
Finally, this column re-echoes the call by Opposition Senator Arley Gill for the involvement of the Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Foundation in working with the Carriacou Committee in organisation and planning as well as to give the Committee the assurance of a substantial and reliable financial subvention and accountability.
The implementation of all these would ensure that the Carriacou Carnival is on the road to recovery and, come next year, it would be as dynamic and enjoyable and income-generating as only the people of Carriacou and Petite Martinique know.
