The National Carnival Commission (NCC), the state agency responsible for the infrastructure for all Carnival events undertaken by its special interest groups (SIGS), Pan Trinbago, Tuco and the NCBA, plans to improve its position as a significant generator of revenue, new chief executive officer Michael Guyadeen said.
He told the Sunday Guardian: "The NCC has been mandated to manage and deliver the Carnival 2014 to achieve financial probity, institute transparent procurement policies with the objective that the general public has access to all contracts to be awarded. In line with proper financial accountability and responsibility, the NCC will ensure that all contracts are executed to achieve the budget allocation for spending to host Carnival 2014."
Edward Metivier, advisor to the Minister of the Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, said Government will spend $289 million on next year's festival. With outstanding debts in the amount of $115 million now cleared, the NCC can begin a clean slate.For its efficient year-round operations, $25 million has been allocated to the NCC, while $70 million will be spent on the infrastructure needed for Carnival 2014.
It will cost $60 million to cover the staging of event by the SIGs, inclusive of prize money. For Regional Carnival the allocation for 2014 is $14 million for events to be staged in 53 districts across T&T.Guyadeen said, "We will be seeking to improve our positioning for Carnival to increase the income potential via branding, advertising and streaming of Regional Carnival and products.
"We have embarked upon creating short and medium term partnerships with the corporate sector. These partnerships are aimed at the development of the 53 communities through T&T where traditional aspects of our national festival continue to be fostered, nurtured, developed and taught to our youth."He said more workshops are being introduced and greater priority will be paid on entrepreneurs in an effort to make and create a sustainable Carnival industry.
Guyadeen said two State-owned entities–TSTT and the National Lotteries Control Board–had already signed on as sponsors for next year's festival. He lauded their willingness to invest in T&T's culture and said that a high level of interest had been expressed by other business following a sponsorship breakfast meeting hosted by the NCC.
"We expect to have several more heritage inventors in Carnival well before the start of our 2014 season. We will welcome other interested corporate citizens to come forward to assist in the future development, sustainability and discovery of young talent which is so vital and necessary to the survival and maintenance of our national repository, discovery, recording and cataloguing of our rich and abundant heritage," he said.