Tobago Correspondent
National Carnival Commission chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters feels that Trinidad’s national Carnival and Tobago’s October Carnival should move towards supporting each other instead of competing.
Peters yesterday said Tobago should focus on strengthening its October Carnival product and position itself as a cool-down destination after the Trinidad Carnival season.
“It can have separate things going on if we do them in tandem and understand what it’s all about. It makes no sense forcing a Carnival in Tobago,” he said in a telephone interview.
Peters stressed that Tobago should offer a variety of activities like beach parties and relaxation after the national Carnival festivities earlier in the year. He believes this would encourage tourists to stay longer by visiting Tobago after experiencing Trinidad’s Carnival.
“Tobago has all that it takes to have the greatest cool down after Carnival and for the build-up of the October Carnival,” Peters suggested, as he called for a partnership to strengthen both Carnival events in February and October, focusing on different flavours for Tobago’s offerings.
Two of Tobago’s largest mas and J’Ouvert bands, Fog Angels and Iconic Mas, confirmed to Guardian Media that they will not be participating in next month’s national Carnival festivities. Instead, they are focusing on activities for October’s celebration in Tobago.
Meanwhile, Tobago House of Assembly Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Tashia Burris, reassured the public that Tobago will participate in the upcoming Carnival season.
Speaking at her Scarborough office, Burris, who was on sick leave after fainting on duty last week, addressed concerns about the island’s involvement. She said the planning and execution of Tobago’s Carnival festivities in February are in the final stages.
“They’re still at the place where they are hammering out what the level of support is going to be, so I don’t want to yet make a comment on what is going to be happening for February because if you will remember very clearly last year, the Chief Secretary made a very comprehensive statement as to the direction that we we’re looking at in terms of how we treat with very February Carnival,” she said.
While specific details are yet to be announced, Burris hinted at activities such as the medium band finals and the inter-department event returning, with the possibility of introducing new activities as well.
As Burris spoke to the media, THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris was in the process of delivering a letter to the Auditor General’s department in Port-of-Spain, calling for an immediate investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds during the island’s festivals over the past year.
Morris claimed that $2 million was unaccounted for in the $9 million budget in 2022. He also delivered letters to Finance Minister Colm Imbert and the THA’s chief administrator, requesting an urgent audit.
In response to Morris’ claim, Burris said he got his figures all wrong.
“Well, I don’t know where he gets his math from because we submitted the information via written response to the House. And I will never say that the public servants who are responsible for preparing those statements will falsify those documents,” she added.
Burris said forex challenges had affected timely payments to destination representatives. She acknowledged the difficulties faced but highlighted the significant growth of the UK destination since the pandemic.
She said business to Tobago surpassed 2019 levels, with approximately an eight per cent increase in 2021 compared to 2019.
Also, she said there was a 55 per cent increase in business compared to 2022, with projections for 2024 showing approximately a 30 per cent increase compared to previous years.