Vincentians, Carnival is on verge of extinction

Dear Vincentians: The festival you have spent the last 40 years cultivating is on the verge of extinction. Private promoters and foreign deejays are slowly deflowering the fruits of Vincy Mas. It’s time we acknowledge and understand the problems and plot a course of action, before it’s too late.

I write this article with a heavy heart, because it’s difficult to say bad things about the country you love. For years, my national pride has blinded me from the nonsense which goes on during Carnival, but after my experience this year (the 40 years – celebration of Vincy Mas), I can clearly see the iceberg of destruction on the horizon.

I arrived for Vincy Mas on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 and attended the following events:

* Bun Wuk [Wednesday, July 5, 2017]

* Dutty Sexy Soca [Wednesday, July 5, 2017]

* Colour Fete [Friday, July 7, 2017]

* Soca Monarch [Saturday, July 8, 2017]

* Coolers & Coconuts [Sunday, July 9, 2017]

* AM: Jamboree [Monday, July 10, 2017]

* Digicel: Temperature Monday Band [Monday, July 10, 2017]

All of the events, with the exception of Soca Monarch, were organized by private promoters and there was an astounding trend at each event – Vincy soca was outshined by Trini soca and dancehall music.

Before I launch an onslaught on the private promoters and deejays, I would like to briefly change the perspective. Let’s pretend for a moment that we were a private promoter – our main objective would be to ensure that we make a profit and our patrons were happy, so that we can have another event in the future. Similarly, if we were in the shoes of the deejay(s) – our objective would be to impress the patrons and promoter(s) to ensure we are hired for another event. With that said, the private promoters and deejays are not obligated to promote Vincy Mas or Vincy music. Frankly, they don’t care what time of the year it is (Easter, Carnival, Independence or Christmas), their objectives remain the same – it’s all about the money and [Alkaline Voice].

In essence, what I am saying is that the private promoters and deejays are not the problem… we are! We, the Vincentian people, are allowing promoters and deejays to stifle our music and our culture. It’s time we do something about it.

Let us discuss potential solutions:

1. Educate others about the importance of Vincy Mas – Vincy Mas is a product which we export to the world. It represents who we are as a people. Furthermore, it contributes significantly to our tourism industry.

2. Be a part of Vincy Mas – Get involved; support local artistes, deejays, promoters and mas bands (etc) who are advocates for our culture.

3. Demand more – keep pushing the radio stations, artistes, promoters and mas bands (etc) to higher standards. We, as a people, have the power to effect the change we wish to see.

I suggested general solutions because we all have our part to play, which means the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) and the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines also need to play their part. We cannot let our culture die.

Roshad Smith