The Ministry of Culture and Community Development has received positive feedback on the season thus far, and preparations are set to intensify in the coming days.
Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin says that Carnival 2026 is unfolding as planned. While giving an update on the greatest show on earth thus far, she says this time around it is more inclusive, meeting the needs of the wider citizenry.
She also announced that State funding will be disbursed to Carnival Organisations from Wednesday.
“Funding is being disbursed in structured tranches to the respected agencies in keeping with this commitment, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Calypsonians Association is expected to receive funding, in the tune of over fifty million dollars, throughout this course of the carnival period, and that goes Pan Trinbago, that is set to receive over twenty million dollars, these are not strange figures these are figures that are usually given throughout the Carnival period.”
The Minister said that new initiatives like the Flava Village continue to receive favourable responses from the public.
She highlighted some of the progress made in preparation for Carnival 2026.
“The main stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah is completed, as we prepare to host the National Panorama finals there today, the North Stand, is 85% completed and more importantly through improved planning, procurement, and coordination, NCC achieved efficiencies resulting in a reduction in the construction cost, and I want to emphasise, reduce spending does not reduce the quality, it only simply reflects better management and better value for money.”
Minister Benjamin said the Government will be looking into developing a fund for the nation’s cultural veterans, as she provided fifty thousand dollars in financial assistance to the wife of legendary calypsonian Baron. The funds will go towards his medical care.
“Some investigation from my office and my mediation department, would have happened and of course my secretariat, I am in talks with TUCO, and we tend to present him with monetary value to of course to help out with his medical bills, sad to announce that he is/ was placed in a home, so the funds that is going to be given to him, of course is to help with regard with his upkeep, and of course his medical bills and medication.”
With public health and sanitisation treated as a matter of urgency by the Ministry of Culture and Community Development, this week’s stakeholder meetings will continue to ensure that the capital city is ready before and cleaned after the greatest show on earth.