Last October the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) took the bold step of hosting the island’s first-ever stand-alone Carnival. Now it seems the plan is for that event to replace the traditional February festivities altogether.
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine explained that in the long-term, February Carnival in Tobago would mean something different than in Trinidad and October will eventually become the island’s main stake in Carnival festivities.
“Hopefully sooner rather than later we get to the point where we can transition away from the traditional February Carnival and transition to a period where this period for us in Tobago is marketed heavily for our campers, the retreaters, those who normally would leave Trinidad to get away. Tobago would be the best place to get away to,” he said.
Augustine said such people should be encouraged to visit Tobago during the Carnival period rather than other Caribbean destinations.
He said the first Tobago Carnival as successful but admitted there are kinks to be worked on. However, he assured that the 2023 offering will be superior to the inaugural event.
However, with the national Carnival in focus there is a controversy brewing among bandleaders in Tobago. Earlier this week, the bandleaders expressed disappointment at the $1.3 million allocation for Carnival bands. They said many of them made a loss taking part in the October festivities.
But according to Augustine, “what we got in October was a superior product to what we normally get in February and the THA contributed far less to getting that done to what we normally do in February.”
He explained that one of the differences between February and October is that prize money is involved in the former.
Responding to claims that he has not been available to meet with the bandleaders, Augustine said he met with them before the October Carnival but has no problem meeting with them again. “And I will be open to meeting with them as a stakeholder in this year, but the decision whether they produce something for the road or not, that’s obviously their call.
The Chief Secretary said what bandleaders are doing might speed up the transition away from February Carnival in Tobago.
But whether there are bands on the road or not, Carnival is taking place at a time when COVID-19 is again a cause for concern. Augustine said he is extremely concerned.
“The economy cannot afford more shutdowns,” he said.
However, he said Tobago has been doing well in keeping infection numbers down but if it gets worse a mask mandate might be necessary.
Augustine appealed to Tobagonians to be more cautious to keep the numbers down and restrict the spread of the disease.
