Every year, late into the month of June or July, the Grenada Carnival Committee (GCC) and the Grenada Cultural Foundation come into action to begin the planning and coordination for Carnival.

And, every year the slogan is that this year the Carnival will be "Bigger and Better".   However this year, NDC is appalled at the disastrously poor level of organisation that characterised Carnival 2K7.  

This year, during the month of July, the GCC cautioned that things were on stream and that even though they were silent, they were not dead.   Coming on the heels of the World Cup Cricket, with all the hype and promotion given to Grenada's Carnival as one of our premiere events that visitors should return to Grenada to experience, one would have expected a concerted effort on the part of this NNP administration, to truly make this year "Bigger and Better".

The reality is that an administration such as NNP, in its dying stages, cannot muster the resolve, resources, ingenuity or will, to draw on competent people in our midst to help them with the necessary planning and coordination to ensure a successful Carnival Product.  

They continue to rely on and recycle their own worn-out, tired, masterminds who only serve to frustrate the few remaining positive elements within the Department of Culture.  

Putting Carnival 2K7 in context:

The new Minister for Culture made statements to the press that Carnival will be held at the new National Cricket Stadium. She even outlined the cost-benefit since only a small portion of the grounds would have been affected.

Then up comes the Prime Minister - the virtual "highest official in the land" (according to him) who over-rules her and categorically states that Carnival 2K7 will be relegated to the Athletics Stadium - "halter-back" since hurricane Ivan.

No roof and no adequate preparations to utilise the facility for paying patrons at our premiere events. The other venue - Victoria Park was also very poorly prepared for Carnival activities. This is the rainy season and all planning has to take this into account.

Then at the famous NNP rally in Victoria Park, the Prime Minister announced that "foreign judges" will be used for adjudicating calypso competition because too many anti-government calypsoes get rewarded. What a gross insult to our local, dedicated Judges Association and Calypso Associations.  

There was no consultation or discussion with the stakeholders on the matter. And the matter goes to Court and even when the judicial court rules, the GCF, in the footsteps of their leader, attempts to flaunt the rulings and have their own way.  

After a 4 hour delay at the start of Dimanche Gras, and much to the annoyance and disgust of patrons - as evidenced by the chants, jeers, hymns and songs by the paying patrons, the MC begins the show without as much as a genuine apology or explanation.

This is the level of disrespect and inefficiency that our country is now associated with - thanks to this decrepit, dying administration. Carnival is an integral part of our cultural heritage. We have a unique product that can market this country in ways that few other products can - if done correctly. But our Carnival appears to be on "auto-pilot". Without leadership, a country perishes.

Times are hard and the social and economic pressures are piled very high on our people's backs.  But no amount of oppression or hard times can suppress a people's will.   Carnival gave us an opportunity to unwind and release some of the tension as evidenced by the spontaneous events - in particular J'Ouvert and Street Jams.

Ole Mas this year took on a greater significance, with the satire and portrayals of political, social and economic issues mainly targeting the inefficiencies and wrong-doings of the NNP administration. Another glaring observation is the low level of budgetary support for our major cultural activity.  Compare what Antigua budgeted for their Carnival - $7.5 million of which Cable and Wireless was a major contributor.

Moreover, NDC has been clamouring for years for a permanent secretariat to manage the affairs of Carnival. This year has earned the infamous title of "poorest ever" Carnival.

The marketing of our Carnival was left to chance.  During World Cup Cricket, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were already advertising their carnival in our local media. What were we doing? The Groovy Monarch is one of the fastest growing additions to our Carnival Festival. It is organised by GPACT.  

Each year the Groovy songs get better and better and the people look forward to this competition. But our government refuses to assist in the promotion and development of this aspect of the carnival.

Contrast this with the support that the Queen Show receives even if it is a private activity. This is what has transpired as "Bigger and Better -Carnival 2K7":

* All major shows got off to a late start. Panorama and Dimache Gras were most glaring.

* Panorama continues to be a disrespected event.  No adequate preparation for the passage of the Pans on and off the stage.

* Total lack of respect for the patrons in activities staged at the Athletics Stadium

* Press personnel and others had to contend with the stench, slush and soggy conditions at the front of the stage.

* Generally poor production and management of the Carnival events

* Changing rooms for artistes were inadequately prepared - poor lighting

* Last minute preparations for all events

* The hierarchy of the administration was noticeably absent at most of the major events.....may be they could not afford to get wet in the uncovered venues.

* A precedence of paying "Foreign Judges"

* Refusal of the Chairman of the Cultural Foundation - Mr. Arthur Hosten - to crown the reigning Calypso monarch.  What an utter classless act  

NDC pledges that under our administration, Carnival in the future will be much better planned and organised with a permanent secretariat that is functional year round.  

It will be budgeted for just like we would budget for Agriculture and Education.   We will rely upon the widest possible involvement of those most capable and competent amongst us regardless of political or other persuasion.

We recognise that Carnival is a serious revenue stream which we so desperately need. We know that there is a better way and we pledge to rescue this economy by drawing on every conceivable talent and resource within our tri-island state.  

NDC recognises that the introduction of Foreign Judges was an attempt by this regime to affect the results of the competitions.  We pledge that we will never, ever resort to such low tactics.  

NDC recognises the importance of our Seamoon Cultural Centre and its central role in the development and promotion of Carnival. This is something that we pledge to undertake as a priority project given its importance to the rural social and economic development.   
NDC apologises to patrons in general but more particularly to all the visitors to Carnival 2K7, for the inconvenience and general disrespect exhibited by our Carnival officials at the major Carnival events.  

NDC says congratulations to all the Winners of Carnival 2K7.   Grenadians get ready. We have suffered too much embarrassment at the hands of this defunct regime.
The house is in disarray. Change is on the way.  Better must come.

(Submitted by the main opposition National Democratic Congress)