Emancipation Day, August 1, is a mere ten days away and preparations by the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) to stage festivities are in a state of disarray. This was according to chairman of the ESC Kafra Kambon, who made a call for Government to state its position on funding and a venue for the five-day celebrations which are expected to begin next Thursday. Kambon expressed disappointment at Government's lack of interest in promoting what he called "an important, national festival."
In an interview yesterday, he said the ESC submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism for $3.5 million in August last year to stage this year's activities to be held at the Queen's Park Savannah starting July 28. Last year, the committee received a $2 million grant. Kambon said so far no funds have been issued to the ESC for this year. He said Emancipation Day was significant to the people of the country and therefore merited a "significant investment" by the government.
The United Nations has declared 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent and the ESC's theme is Celebrating our African Heritage. Kambon said while there was "no contention" over the use of certain open spaces at the savannah, the committee was informed the Grand Stand "was not safe for use." He said: "We have an agreement with the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism since 2010 that use of the facility would be granted to us.
"That agreement is not in contention. We also had a meeting with officials of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) around March or April this year and they were supportive of us and there was no problem at all. "We had a co-operative environment about the space and we discussed in detail what we wanted to do with the Grand Stand." He said about two weeks ago he was made aware that use of the Grand Stand was not feasible. (RR)
