In-depth and candid conversations regarding the feasibility of having a National Carnival production in Tobago and the Tobago Carnival in October will be coming soon.
This was the announcement made by Secretary of Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries Zorisha Hackett.
Speaking at a press briefing held on Friday, Secretary Hackett explained that the Chief Secretary shared straightforward views on the matter.
“Just had a conversation on the budget for Tobago Carnival, how much we spend, how much we still have to spend in terms of meeting our liabilities and to now be in a national Carnival space again, it seems like, you know, is there a reduplication of output? Is it that we’re just trying to have two bites of a cherry that we need to now have a conversation on whether we really should be, you know, cooling off of one? And so Chief has put it on the table. He put it on the table very early when we had the conversation about Jazz and the fact that we need to revisit our output. And so this conversation has also been at the fore.”
Secretary Hackett explained that following this year’s National Carnival festivities, the Carnival Taskforce will engage Tobagonians through consultations to pave the way forward.
“It’s a gradual pull back from some of the unnecessary spending. You’re not just going to wake up one day and say, as of tomorrow, there is no more. And these conversations would have to be guided by you, the public. We are serving you. And so even when that is made, it’s going to happen with consultation, wide public consultation that ensures that what we’re doing, we’re so guided by you, the people of Tobago.”