Cruise ship visitors joined a mini-Carnival street parade on Monday as the Tobago House of Assembly launched this year’s festival in downtown Scarborough.
The Commission has a budget of $7 million for this year’s event; $200,000 less than last year.
The Tobago Festivals Commission — the THA delivery arm for the management of all festivals is in charge of the event.
The launch, though the streets of Scarborough, was a theatrical mix of traditional and contemporary Carnival characters, parading before locals and scores of visitors.
The launch was planned to coincide with the inaugural visit of the cruise vessel, MV Ventura, whose passengers joined the parade while others posed for photos with mas characters.
Live steelpan music played on the boardwalk, while Jab Jabs swished their whips at Sangster’s Hill. A group of traditional Robbers and Minstrels were not too far away at Crooks River. A group of masqueraders wearing modern costumes was on display at the Esplanade.
Executive chairman of the Tobago Festival Commission George Leacock said the commission is working to improve standards — especially punctuality.
Bands and participants in the competition are known to show up hours after the scheduled start time for events.
He said he expected more participants to take part in this year’s events as the Festivals Commissions is “exploring an arrangement ... that will see active calypso tents in Tobago.”
Part of the new activities will be a Tobago Road March where the competitors will perform a song composed by a performer from Tobago.
Also speaking at the launch, Secretary in the Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation- Nadine Stewart-Phillips expressed confidence that the festival will remain at a high standard despite its financial constraints.
“We are here today because we understand and accept that we play a critical role in the development of Tobago’s Carnival,” she said.
“Understandably we are not exempt from the financial restructuring affecting the fraternity across the country, but we as Tobagonians are known for our resilience, our positive attitudes towards change and taking what little we have,” she added.
THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, who also spoke at the launch, reflected on the unique nature of Tobago’s Carnival.
“While Trinidad is filled with pure energy, euphoria and fantastic costumes, the creativity of Tobagonians focuses on the philosophical and folk aspects of traditional Carnival such as Jab Jab, the moko jumbie, midnight robbers and Dame Lorraine. Our traditional mud mas brings thousands (of masqueraders) including those from Trinidad,” Charles said.