Carnival Done. What next?
OUR LARGEST Cultural festival, Carnival is now over. There was a lot of energy in keeping with what is referred to as the ‘hottest carnival’ in the Caribbean. Despite the few hiccups, things seem to have gone fairly well and the new CEO began the process of doing some restructuring. These have to be re-examined. Moving the Calypso semi-finals to the Cruise Ship Berth didn’t really work for the spectators. Something has to be done about the programme on Carnival Tuesday at the Victoria Park. I have over the years gotten to the Park at about 11.45 to see the display of the bands on the stage. The first two bands, ‘Energy’ and ‘Mirage’, appeared quite early and for the next hour and a half there was no band. By then I had enough. I was the lone person in the small pavilion. My usual friends with whom I socialise annually were absent. I left the Park. It was hot but I was able to look at those two early bands and take some photos. I left to go home and to return later when it would not have been as hot. At home I started looking at the bands which were then coming on stage and called it a day. Should we continue to take the bands to Victoria Park? Times have changed and adjustments will have to be made. At one time, the Victoria Park attracted a lot of folks from the country. Then, the communication situation was different, and they would have been exposed on that day to some of the winners of the Carnival shows. But that is the past. Now we must move on and ensure that our Carnival grows from strength to strength.
We are now into different times. The focus is on to the next general election, the date of which will be kept in the pockets of the Prime Minister as he awaits the time most conducive to his party. The Silly Season will be in full blast. Every move is going to be centred around winning the upcoming election. Things will be done that might not necessarily be in the best interest of the country but will suit an election agenda. Money will be spent as we have never seen before. The voting public will have to decide whether to give the government a sixth term or go for change, for something new. Under existing circumstances what will be reviewed is not the last five years but the period from 2001 to 2025. At stake too is our understanding of what democracy is all about. But we all have to examine our neighbours and see where we stand in relation to them.
What are our expectations of the future? When we examine the two parties seeking our support, do we see teams working in harmony and with a vision of what the future will hold? What will guide us in the decisions we will be called upon to make? Will we only be about satisfying our individual needs or must we move beyond that and seek the advancement of our country? Which party appears to have the team with the necessary skills? Are new ideas relevant to the challenges of the times being presented to us as electors? Our upcoming elections are likely to be the most important of all times. It is our civic duty to go out and vote. This is a central factor in any democracy. Let us become involved and decide on who we need to take us forward. Remember that our mission is to ensure that we select persons who we will expect to act on our behalf. We after all are the Masters of the process and those we select should be acting on our behalf, not on behalf of a few. We must always remember this.
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