Tobago Correspondent
The plans for Carnival in Tobago have been announced and there have been some major changes.
Some activities will remain in the February Carnival season, while a few others—like the Parade of the Bands—have been shifted to the October Carnival on the island.
In a Facebook live yesterday afternoon, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said Tobago is in the process of redefining its role in the February Carnival, while working to strengthen its product.
Augustine explained, “There is no way the THA will be spending the same amount spent in October in the month of February. February will have a small much leaner budget, although we will know that budget early next week.”
The Tobago House of Assembly executive approved $280,000 grants for mas makers, he said.
Some of the changes announced are that Kiddies Carnival will remain in February. There will also be Calypso tents, J’Ouvert in Crown Point and Roxborough, as well as pretty mas and night mas.
The Afro Queen and the island’s official Parade of the Bands will now happen in October.
He said, “We are preparing Tobago to refine its February product to one where we can take advantage of elements in the market that are more dominated by Trinidad Carnival.”
He said the Carnival calendar was stalled due to late proposals, but it will be done and released next week.
Earlier this week, National Carnival Commission chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters called for Tobago to shift its focus away from the national Carnival in February and reposition itself as a cooldown destination.
He said it was time Trinidad’s national Carnival and Tobago’s October Carnival move towards supporting each other instead of competing. He explained that after tourists visit Trinidad for the major Carnival events and parades, they could then head to Tobago for relaxation and to cool down after the festivities.
The Tobago Carnival will be hosted from October 25 to 27.
