Spirit of Carnival should not be policed – Gonsalves

While there must be order and discipline in the festival, the spirit of Carnival should not be policed. This is the view of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, which he expressed during a recent press briefing.

“People want to enjoy themselves and my view is that that should be encouraged.

“When you hear I tell you that, I don’t think you should police the people’s spirit at Carnival and that the road mek to walk on Carnival day, {{more}}all those are things which I’m talking about,” said Gonsalves at the Cabinet room.

The Prime Minister, however, stated that the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) should tighten up whatever permission or licensing system is in place, so that fees could be charged to persons who hold private shows.

“The reason why they make so much money is because of the Carnival infrastructure which has been set up and the promotion and so forth; something should come to the coffers of CDC for having set the framework,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that he was astounded to hear that some people were “kicking up” when a group of young persons wanted to bring an overseas band to participate in the festival.

“I want them to come and spend money; why do you want to keep them out, particularly these people are not involving themselves in any competition; they weren’t coming in to promote high culture, they were coming in to have fun! Which is what Carnival is; well, it has the culture, but a lot of people, they have fun because a lot of people who go on the road Carnival day.”

Gonsalves said some of the established shows are boring, but it was felt by some people that because the shows had traditionally been done in a certain way, they must continue to be done that way for ever.

“Well, we shouldn’t have that,” he commented.

When questioned by a reporter about money owed by the Government to the CDC, Gonsalves said it has not been drawn to his attention that the Government owes the CDC, but he is satisfied that the Government spends more than adequate money on the festival.

“I have to be careful that it does not become a ‘suck-me-well’,” he said, adding that between the Government and the National Lotteries Authority, approximately EC$1.5 million is provided to Carnival.

St Vincent and the Grenadines will celebrate 40 years of June/July Carnival next year and Gonsalves noted that it would also be the first year that the Argyle International Airport (AIA) would be in operation to bring visitors to the festival.

“I expect to see enterprising people bringing charters from all about, doing all inclusive let’s make some money off of the business nah, let’s have some fun and make some money – clean fun, orderly disciplined, etc” he added. (AS)