No Carnival without bacchanal

Fri, Jun 18, 2010
Carnival would not be Carnival without the annual controversies – not in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda or indeed here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Many of those controversies revolve around governance and administrative issues and, given the role of governments in these national festivals, often there is a great deal of local politics thrown in as well. The occasional faux pas, the foot-in-the-mouth comments of some administrators and the intensity generated by the rivalry associated with winning honours, all provide much material for heated public discussion.

In so doing, it is very easy to get so caught up in what is perceived as critically important that we lose overall perspective. Our penchant for unbridled criticism seems to take precedent and if we are not careful, our biggest national Festival can get mired in endless controversies. Whether it is calypso, pan or mas, there is never any shortage of issues. A lot of these have their roots in decisions and actions by the people charged with responsibility for administering the Festival, the members of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) and its various sub-committees.

There is hardly a year that passes without the CDC coming under fire for one reason or the other, often justifiably so. Sadly, praise is not so forthcoming when they get it right. Government’s central role in appointing the CDC and funding Carnival activities leads inevitably to a political slant and for more than three decades now, Carnival and the CDC have been virtual political footballs. With the advent of talk-show radio, even the calypsonians, long the leaders in social commentary, have had to play second-fiddle to the ubiquitous call-in programmes.

This year, a great deal of time and discussion is being expended on issues related to the Miss SVG show which took place some three weeks ago. That show is no stranger to controversy. The prizes and perks for winning, and the resources, human, financial and otherwise, invested in Miss SVG make it a real high-profile activity. Government’s decision to award a university scholarship to the winner has raised the stakes even further.

It stands to reason then that those at the helm of organising such events must put their best feet forward for the harsh glare of the spotlight will expose every little error or false step. This is a good thing, for it ought to lead to a lifting of the bar where performance is concerned and to greater public accountability in the process. This is the context in which one must take public criticism. There certainly seems to be some issues surrounding the Miss SVG show and the CDC needs to clear the air on them.

We have to be careful, though, that we do not, with all the pulling and tugging, destroy the very festival we are seeking to build up. Of course, we need to correct the weaknesses and ensure public accountability, but let’s leave the bacchanal for the streets on Carnival Monday and Tuesday and deal with the problematic issues in a more constructive manner.