Carnival Development Corporation launches posters

Vincy Mas 2008… The Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean.

That’s the anthem that members of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), as well as the many stakeholders in the country’s biggest cultural festival, would love to hear echoing throughout the length and breadth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and if possible, the region and the rest of the world.{{more}}

Last Tuesday, the CDC held the first of many press conferences to take place for the year; on this occasion, to launch the 2008 Carnival poster and view cards.

The unveiling, which took place at the Corporation’s headquarters at Victoria Park, saw some of the event’s biggest sponsors: The National Lotteries Authority, LIAT, Hairoun, The Republic of China on Taiwan, The Ministry of Tourism, and others, gather in solidarity for what is expected to be the best Carnival yet.

The poster, which heralds the 2008 season, features a section of the winning 2007 band KFC Players International, as well as calypso monarch Vibrating Scakes, Miss SVG Melissa Yorke and Panorama Champs Digicel Rhythmix.

The view cards, five in total, feature pictures which also depict aspects of the 2007 festivities, including the soca and calypso monarch finals, Miss SVG contestants, mas and panorama finals.

The view cards, which can also be used as post cards, also feature the line up of activities that make up the June 27 to July 8th festival.

The calendar of events begins on May 3rd with the official launch, followed by Super Jamz on May 15th and Miss SVG on May 31st.

A new fixture to the calendar is the Ragga Soca competition slated for June 15th.

June 27th sees the return of Fantastic Friday, Junior Carnival on the 28th and soca monarch finals the following day.

Mas on the Move returns this year on June 30th, followed by the Junior Calypso and soca finals, and Glow on July 2nd.

Junior Panorama is scheduled for July 3rd, Miss Carival on the 4th, Soca Monarch finals on the 5th, and Dimanche Gras on the 6th.

J’Ouvert and Monday street party take place on July 7th, and the curtain comes down on Carnival 2008 on the 8th with Mardi Gras.

Chairman of the CDC Dennis Ambrose, speaking at Tuesday’s poster launch said that the posters and cards serve as a principal promotional tool for Vincy Mas, but the promotion of this country’s premier event began since September last year, and will continue in earnest until the end of the season.

The chairman said that it is the belief of the CDC that more people will be traveling to these shores for the 2008 Carnival season in spite of the 2007 travel problems. (JJ)