RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
With Carnival just a few days away, San Fernando bandleaders say they are yet to know whether prize money will be given or if there will be judging on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
Saying something is amiss in the way Carnival is unfolding in the South, band leader Anthony Charles yesterday said after investing $100,000 in his band to support “the Mother of all Carnivals,” they are yet to be told where masqueraders will cross the stage for judging.
“There is a communication breakdown. We have a Conveyor of Carnival and we are not getting information. They had two years of COVID, if we were proactive we would have planned better,” Charles said.
He called for bandleaders in San Fernando to be treated with respect. Saying he represents 75 per cent of the bandleaders, Charles called on the corporation officials to meet with them to discuss their issues.
Another bandleader, Paula Atherly, said it was regrettable that everything was so disorganised in San Fernando.
“We have not received funding for San Fernando. How can you plan a Mother of Carnivals when there is no funding? What assistance is given to San Fernando to start designs so people can come out and support Carnival?” Atherly asked.
Despite this, she explained that Mayor Junia Regrello was supportive of culture.
“He does his best to push and promote San Fernando. What is happening here, I am not sure,” she said.
“It is not good enough that a week before Carnival bandleaders do not know if there is going to be judging,” she added.
Saying masqueraders were already disgruntled, Atherly said: “People who spend money to play mas want a prize. We need to have income after all the hard work of promoting and bringing out a band.”
In an interview with Guardian Media, San Fernando Mayor Regrello revealed that judging will take place as usual at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts.
“Judging is at SAPA on Monday and Tuesday and has been so for many years. Because of the hospital being close to Harris Promenade and the increase in Jouvert bands, we have put judging at SAPA. The setting up of physical infrastructure will start from tomorrow (today),” Regrello revealed.
On the issue of prize monies, Regrello said the SFCC has not received any allocation as yet from the National Carnival Commission.
“That is why we cannot say what prize money we will give. I do not doubt that NCC will give us the funds, but at least they can tell us what we are getting so we can plan accordingly,” he said.
“In the absence of information we cannot communicate,” he added.
The Mayor said the NCC allocation has been reduced over the years from $3 million to $400,000. A request of $3 million was made for 2023, he added.
While he expressed appreciation for the contribution of the bandleaders, Regrello assured them there will be judging and prize money.
Regrello also slammed the lack of corporate sponsors for Carnival.
“Private sector providers benefit more than anyone else for Carnival but nobody is making contributions to Carnival in San Fernando anymore,” he lamented, adding this lack of support shows an abject lack of appreciation for Carnival as an art form.