Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) Ricardo Adams has appealed to all Vincymas lovers to support the festival as it hosted the official launch of the June-July festivities on the weekend.

Vincymas was launched on Saturday, May 6, at Victoria Park following motorcades which left from the leeward and windward ends of the mainland and converged in Kingstown.

Adams said that there has been a significant increase of requests for information on travel and accommodation and that the CDC is pleased to welcome aboard Caribbean Airlines as their official airline partner for 2023 and with increased flights to St Vincent and the Grenadines from both the United States and the Caribbean.

Costumes on splendid display at the launch of Vincymas.

“We expect that there will be an influx of visitors to our shores. In fact, we have seen inquiries from persons wishing to bring in not only families and couples, but groups to

Vincymas. Our accommodation sector is filling up rapidly so I encourage those of you wishing to make this stuff on your carnival calendar to make your arrangements early while these are still available and affordable.”

He also said that mas bands are working hard in the camps, and many have already launched their costume presentations for 2023, and some have sections already sold out.

“Steel orchestras are in rehearsals, both at the senior and in the junior and also the school/community band levels. Rural carnivals have presented a programme of events with the inclusion of aspects of pageantry, mas, steel pan and Calypso. I always say if you can’t make it for the main festival, come for the warm up rural carnivals and enjoy a burst of the energy.”

Adams also mentioned the separation of the Ragga Soca and the Soca Monarch shows and went on to speak about the other events on the calendar for the festival which runs from June 30- July 11.

“We still have our Calypso semis, Steel and Glitter, our junior shows Soca Monarch and the Mardi Gras shows in the traditional format so there is a

full programme of events for visitors.”

Adams said that Jouvert will see the return of a few more paint bands and also the traditional Jouvert characters on the streets.

“You may have heard that live bands will be on the road again and for Monday t-shirt mas, we’ve been advised of the return of several bands that sat out the last couple of years. “We continue to pay attention to our venues, the quality of our productions and the timing of our events. We know the experience matters to our patrons.”

He recognized the contribution of sponsors of Vincymas, noting that the CDC is eternally grateful for their input.

“I would particularly like to single out our premier partner, the National Lotteries Authority who continues to support Vincymas in a very significant way. We have a reputation for being a very safe, intimate and energy filled carnival and we will continue to work with our stakeholders, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, law enforcement, the clergy, the private sector, media, components of Vincymas and private promoters to do what is best for Vincymas and St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Adams underscored that “Vincymas is about all of us and for all of us. I would like to appeal to all Vincymas lovers to work with us to ensure that we have a fantastic Vincymas 2023 and continue to make it the hottest Carnival in the Caribbean…”.

Minister of the Public Service, Consumers Affairs and Sports Frederick Stephenson, who declared the official start of the festival, encouraged persons abroad to visit St Vincent and the Grenadines and be part of the carnival.

“We have had, and have been the best carnival throughout the region over many years and I’m saying to persons, to come down and come and visit St Vincent

and the Grenadines to be a part of these festivities. Let us enjoy ourselves. Let us keep the violence and the crime away. Let us do what we can do to make

Vincymas even bigger and better in 2023.”

[[Updated May 10th, 2023 @4:33pm to change the date of Vincy Mas launch from Sunday, May 8th to Saturday, May 6th]]