Letter to the Editor: A Carnival Date

I feel compelled to submit my opinion, albeit a less informed one, on the issue of whether the dates of our traditional Pre-Lenten Carnival celebrations should be changed.

I must acknowledge that the highly seasoned professionals who have suggested the change have a very brilliant record of success in promoting and developing cultural events both here and abroad, and certainly know more than I do.

Nonetheless, I am not convinced that a change in the dates of carnival without attacking the real problem hindering the development of the festival is going to make much of a difference.

I joined one of the biggest costume bands to play Mas in Trinidad & Tobago this year (TRIBE), and must admit that it is one of the best festivals on earth.

But the government of Trinidad & Tobago spent over TT$ 94 million dollars on Carnival in 2012. That is a large chuck of Dominica’s national budget. The prizes for Soca Monarch included TT$ 2.5 million dollars. The Road March prize included a brand new motor vehicle. Surely, the success of the carnival celebration did not happen overnight. As others have rightly pointed out, Trinidad & Tobago continues to compete successfully with Carnival in Rio, and Mardi Gras.

Every year, for the most part, the same Thunderbird diehards and a few others actually take part in the Carnival activities, while the majority of Dominicans continue to look from the sidelines. We must ask ourselves: ‘if we change the date of Carnival, will we be inviting visitors to look at us parade, or will they be looking at us standing on the sidelines?’

The Carnival celebrations in Dominica continue to reflect a lack of sponsorship from the persons who can afford to do it. If only our festivities received only a fraction of the sponsorship spent by the DLP and UWP during general elections, I think we’d be doing a lot better.

 My argument, simply, a change of the date without a change of attitude, involvement and financial support alongside an increase in sponsorship may not make a difference.

I am also convinced that Dominica’s carnival is suffering from a deficiency of performing arts education. We have few music schools, since the Kairi school of music was closed down. I am unaware whether any of our schools teach costume building to develop the creative abilities of our people.

I do applaud that the efforts of the Waitikubuli dance theatre and Christian school of music, but I am of the view that a collective effort is lacking. By comparison, the 3 main Universities in Trinidad & Tobago, as well as other art colleges throughout the country offer full time collegiate programs and bachelors and masters degrees in costume design, music, drama and dance.

My point, without developing the creative ability and intellectual capacity of its human resources in tertiary Art programs, Dominica’s carnival will never reflect its full cultural potential.

My third and final point is perhaps the most obvious. Without more flights to Dominica, and an increase in hotel capacity, we really are at a significant natural disadvantage. I won’t elaborate much on this point, but travel is a major hassle, as persons seeking a getaway will inevitably be deterred by our limited air access.

Dominica’s carnival has great potential. But the problems we face stem largely from a lack of patronage and deficiency of sponsorship. To put on a great show, we must have great sponsors.

A change in the date may help, but I am not yet convinced it is the simple solution.

 

A Carnival Lover


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34 Comments

  1. EMILE Zpatos
    February 28, 2012

    THE TIME AND DATE IS NOT THE PROBLEM . TIME AND DATE DOES NOT AFFECT VISITORS TO DOMINICA .WHAT DOES IS AIR TRANSPORTATION , ACCOMODATION AND PROMOTION THE SAME WAY IT AFFECTS OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY.FIX THIS BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS THE TOTAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .A LOT OF PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DOMINICA AND A LOT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GGET THERE.
    THAT IS FROM A VISITORS POINT OF VIEW.ONLY CHANGING THE DATE WILL NOT FIX ANYTHING.
    FROM RESENTIAL POINT OF VIEW WE HAVE THE PROBLEM OF PATICIPATION AND SPONSORSHIP AND PLANNING .WE ONLY START THINKING OF CANIVAL AFTER CHRISTMAS .WE DO NOT HERE CALYPSO OF STEELBAND DURING THE YEAR.

  2. Alice
    February 27, 2012

    Change the date of the Creole Festival and leave carnival the way it is. Don’ kill evrything we have in Dominica. Leave Carnival alone, and those who want to go to Trinidad, PLEASE GO, we won’t miss you.

  3. February 27, 2012

    If we change the date then it’s not Carnival any longer it will now be a masquerade,CARNI VALE in Dominica is a Cultural Religious practice.he next question is do we abolish the two holidays precceding the advent of lent.As I see it competition only improves the end product,get rid of those recycled cultural Icons of the past and bring in some new blood It ain’t broke so leave it alone On the question of the WCMF move it to the Carnival season making it a combined bash

  4. Lord Open Our Eyes
    February 27, 2012

    Serve the Lord and reject this drunken revelry; indecently clad women, gyrating their waists and men cursing and fighting with each other. Wanton behavior with no thought of the morrow; much less for God. Regrets nine months later, stds and can’t remember what I did last night. Ohh…well – “ I don’t behave like that…I am having clean fun”—Phew!!!! Make a soup and then try to take out an untouched potato from it, or the salt….bet you can’t. No, because it is just one pot eh…..Yet, we call it ‘culture’; well, culture ain’t taking me to a devil’s hell; nah way. Will it take you

    • Tony
      February 27, 2012

      Hi, I would like to address you by name but since you did not put your name I can’t. Anyway based on your post it look like you love church just like I love carnival so please stop telling us how to live our lives.

      • Lord Open Our Eyes
        February 28, 2012

        Live your life how you want it sir..after all it is yours to live right? You put the oxygen in the air for you to breathe; you control when you open your eyes in the morning…you are the master of your universe….Sure live your life how you see it fit. Give yourself life tomorrow by the way…Best regards.

    • Carib Diva 1
      March 7, 2012

      Hey how you know of the above?!!!

  5. Ted Lewis ( posie)
    February 27, 2012

    IS IT DOMINICA CARNIVAL OR CARNIVALS ?

    Why on god earth every village in Dominica wants to have their own carnival?
    Imagine what that does to the level of sponsorship and participation given to the main carnival. Now people is still saying that business places don’t sponsor.

    Imagine some of these village is given funds and after every carnival no one gives account of how these funds were spent , plus the added speculation of embezzlement of funds.
    Some of the villages has committee without any bylaws, no meeting, no group planning of carnival , no AGM , no one selecting president and yet still they go out there soliciting funds on behalf of the constituency. carnival upon carnival no one giving account of funds received , raised and spent.decisions are made unilaterally on behalf of the entire village and etc . Not even a thank you letter is put in the papers to these sponsor.

    The funny thing is some of these groups/ so call association/ committee received funds form government sometime directly or through the Roseau carnival committee.

    I can’t believed tax payers money are given without government first ensuring that these groups have structures in place to ensure that funds are spent rightfully.

    Next, how much firms would want to sponsor to groups that are so poorly organized with little or no transparency and accountability.

    I personally think that we need to cut down the number of villages having carnival to at least 3 carnival. that includes Portsmouth , Marigot and Roseau until our transportation problem is solve then we can have one carnival like other countries.
    Now Portsmouth will serve from Colihaut to capauchin to Bense. marigot serves the east and roseau take care of the rest.

    However we need these places to have properly functioning committee all functioning as a subcommittee of the Dominica festival committee.
    Must be accountable for every dollar spent.

    This is the first change we need to make if we want to improve dominica carnival.

    The next thing is we need to encourage buses and gas station to operate 24/7 during the two weeks of carnival celebration. in this regard some form of subsidy could be granted to bus operators.

    A percentage of the profits from the calypso show should go towards the carnival organizing committee. we could also host a Caribbean monarch .
    NOW i don’t see anything cultural about the date of carnival besides it comes before lent period. most people talking don’t even respect the lent period anyway.

    in terms of economic gain its not even debatable that changing the date is the better option . i mean just imagine visitors from Martinique and gwada that will come Dominica.

    i haven’t heard two good reason other than culture why the date should remain the same.

    come on you people.

  6. REFRESH
    February 27, 2012

    I agree with the writer, If there are more sponsors/More planning the carnival will be better. If I recall from this years queen show they had to go and BEG for sponsors for the girls… that is to show you that there are no sponsors for Carnival so whether the date change or not it is going to be the same… NO SPONSORS….No COSTUME BAND, all you see is T-SHIRTS and MORE T-SHIRTS… do more planning and you will get better results…

  7. Anonymous
    February 27, 2012

    definitely agree there should be more.

    Also i remember in the past we used to have more floats and I believe this was a competition as well

    Plus the bands need to come out on time … ( In trinidad people go to j’ouvert and still get to their bands by 9-10 am on a monday and by 7am on tuesday

    bands launch their costumes from september before

    One interesting thing they have is “crossing the stage” … there’s a hype and excitement for crossing a judging point which is the highlight for each band and spectators.

    So much more can be done…. before we think of tackling the date

  8. zuma
    February 27, 2012

    ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

    COSTUME IDEAS FOR NEXT YEAR SHOULD BE ON THE AGENDA. STOP WASTING TIME DISCUSSING AND DO SOMETHING…
    maybe the middle or late march could be an option. Really february is too close a date from Xmas, Carnival was extremely colorful in the 70’s maybe we need this kind of inspiration again. changing the date does not really bring much citzen participation. i believe it is more a matter of patriotism and also a big financial assistance from the government and business houses. take eg from Brazil carnival. even if the date was to change and persons did not participate it would still bring us back to square 1. we need more citzen participation . begin in the schools.

    instead of talking, show some action already a theme should be chosen for next year and preparations should be made eg costume design, bands, etc etc.PREPARATION, STRONG PARTICIPATION GREAT IDEAS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS THE KEY NOTHING ELSE, though matter how far we put the date if these elements are missing, we will get the same poor results. i already have a theme for a carnival band anyone interested can contact [email protected]

    • @ zuma
      February 27, 2012

      Allow us to register online!

      Just a point, perhaps you can market this band early online, and allow people to register on DNO.

      I know in trinidad one of the reasons why people from outside can join bands so easily is becasue alot of registration takes place online

  9. February 27, 2012

    The date needs to change, around the same time, Guadeloupe and Martinique have Carnival as well.

    We know for a fact that the frence usually patronise our WCMF and Independence celebrations.

    A change of date and proper marketing can attract bands and mass troops from Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua, Venzuela and Rio

    A change of date will lighten up flights so that more space will be available for Dominicans to travel and tourists.

    LIAT cannot handle the influx of passengers when all four island have carnival at the same time, it is impossible.

    A change of date to a time when theres no other festival to clash with ours will be great. Trinidads Carniva is already seasoned for february and we need to start advertising fir next year parade, whats de hold up?

  10. Princess
    February 27, 2012

    Alwin and his fellow money friends wants the date change because they wants to go to Trinidad for Carnival. That’s is the only reason. They can go We do not want to change dates.

    • Calypso fanatic
      February 27, 2012

      Stop personalizing Alwin’s View. Come up with your opinion. Carnival needs to change

  11. Tony
    February 27, 2012

    Hi a number of good points were made but I do not feel we need to change the date. I went to Trinida carnival in 2011 and it is a massive production not only by their Government but by the people. I came to our canival and I was disappointed in one aspect which is the lack of participation by our citizens in the custume bands. We should be able to produce at least thirty custume bands for the parade of bands on carnival Tuesday. I walked around town and the spectators was huge but we must find a way for them to participate.

    • Senior Citizen
      February 27, 2012

      Did you say 30 costumed bands? What route would they have to take to avoid “a jam-up”? The first band on parade had to wait at the junction on Kennedy Avenue/Independence Street for a while before it could move on to the 2nd round! I don’t think the present route can even manage 10 bands!!

      • Carib Diva 1
        March 7, 2012

        We will have to think of using the Boulevard just for the morning parade/juding of costumed bands… that’s an idea

  12. Anon Again
    February 27, 2012

    Dear A Carnival Lover,
    This is a very thoughtful and well presented piece. I applaud you for it. We need more of these reasoned and intelligent contributions, as Alwin Bully was telling me recently.

    The following thesis is lengthy. (I hope DNO publishes it in its entirety and that readers take the time to go through it before commenting). It was presented to the then minister of tourism, Mr. Yvor Nassief in 2007, as well as the junior minister of tourism, Loreen Bannis, and to Mr. Nassief’s successor. Like you, I prefer to remain anonymous even while presenting my research.

    Here’s the thesis:

    Dear Minister,
    The issue of an appropriate date for carnival has been debated for several years in Dominica with both those who support the status quo and those wanting to move the festival to another time of year making highly emotional arguments. For the most part, the calypsonians – whose music form in integral and critical aspect of carnival – argue that the February/March date falls too soon after the Christmas holiday, leaving them little time to prepare. At the same time, they say, with the season of Lent beginning at midnight on Carnival Tuesday, the music composed for the festival is placed in the “freezer” until after Easter.
    On the other hand, those who argue for keeping the date generally want to stick to tradition. They also counter the calypsonians claims of lack of time by pointing out that whenever carnival is celebrated, there will be one year to prepare.
    I have taken the liberty of preparing this proposal in support of changing the date of the festival, as well as revamping the entire celebration for the country’s benefit. While shifting it would be a start, that alone would not be enough to reap maximum benefit from an event with the potential of pumping millions of dollars into Dominica’s economy annually.

    OBJECTIVE
    “We want to put together a package that is marketable, a package that can appeal to carnival lovers all over the world.”
    This comment was made by the Hon. Minister of Community Development and Culture at the opening of Carnival 2007. In my opinion, the comment reflected a desire to produce the kind of festival from which Dominica can not only gain economically, but one through which the country can reap the maximum benefit possible. In order for this to happen, organisers of the festival must be prepared to make drastic changes. I sincerely recommend changes to the date, the way the event is perceived, the number and types of revellers/competitors it attracts and the structure of the organization that runs carnival.
    ECONOMIC AND OTHER IMPACT OF CARNIVAL
    “Festival tourism has emerged to be an innovation and a new source for competitive advantage in the Caribbean tourism product. Cultural industries enhance the indigenous component of the tourism product, strengthens destination image and builds cultural confidence.”
    Dr. Keith Nurse, UWI

    To get a sense of the economic impact of carnival, let’s look at one example in Trinidad – the hotel sector. The event generates occupancy levels in excess of 90% for the two to three weeks of the festival’s main activities. The music industry also benefits tremendously, with Trinidad Carnival and Barbados Crop Over festivals generating music and entertainment industries that export US$50 million and US$20million, respectively.

    Dr. Nurse argues that festivals like carnival have an up-market profile, attract international media exposure and enhance the attractiveness, imaging and media exposure (e.g. publicity) of a destination. For example, the St. Lucia Tourist Board estimates that the media value of the Jazz Festival is in excess of the budget of the festival
    Carnival, therefore, must be seen as a cost effective means to create demand for tourism, add a fillip to the entertainment sector through creating new clients, markets and media exposure, create a new and expanding clientele for the commercial sector, e.g. retail and restaurant and generate additional business for the media and advertising industries. However, in order to maximize these potential benefits, Dominica must be placed in the right position.

    CHANGES TO THE DATE
    This is possibly one of the most contentious issues facing carnival organisers. The subject is debated virtually every year, the arguments remain the same, and emotions run high. It is my conviction that carnival, along with the other festivals, must be viewed as a tourism activity; as an opportunity to attract as many visitors to our shores as possible from both within and outside the Caribbean region. Based on this conviction, my recommendation to move the festival from the current pre-Lenten period to a date later in the year is based strictly on economic reasons – how much more the country can gain from such a change.
    At a town hall meeting in New York on Monday 11 June 2007, the chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the minister of tourism and aviation for St. Lucia, Senator Allen Chastanet, backed by the minister of tourism for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Hon. Glen Beache, observed that as more and more Caribbean countries come to appreciate the benefit of carnival, they were moving the festival from the pre-Lenten period to dates in the summer. Sen. Chastanet also said he expected the trend to continue.
    In fact, the last country to move its carnival from February/March to the summer was St. Lucia, which did it in 2000. It has become clear to many that it is virtually impossible to compete against Trinidad which has long established itself as the place to be for Carnival. I have spoken to dozens and dozens of people from other Caribbean counties, as well as those from outside the region about experiencing Carnival in Dominica, and virtually all have said they would rather go to Trinidad. On a recent flight to New York, I sat next to one traveller and when told I was from Dominica, she said friends have been telling her for years about Dominica carnival and that over the last six years she had been planning to visit, but the date coincided with Trinidad’s and she would not miss Trinidad’s carnival. This is what countries like St. Lucia and St. Vincent – which moved 30 years ago – realized. The following quote from a press release issued by the St. Lucia Tourist Board in 2005, emphasises the point: “In 2000, the St. Lucia Tourist Board decided to move Carnival from the traditional pre-Lenten dates in February to June and July, in hopes of increasing tourism and eliminating the competition of other Caribbean Carnival festivities. Indeed the change helped boost visitor numbers, with an even greater increase anticipated for 2005.”
    In addition, a press release from the St. Lucia Cultural Development Foundation, states: “The move to July meant more visitors to the Festival as the island would not have to compete with Trinidad and Tobago. This experiment has surely paid off, as statistics show a steady growth in arrivals for this period. Among the persons surveyed up to 2004, 59% were repeat visitors, mostly from the islands of Martinique, Barbados, Trinidad and Guadeloupe and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.”
    It has been argued that since February/March is the peak of the tourist season, we should keep the festival there. I respectfully argue that since February/March is the peak of the tourist season, we should move the festival. It is no secret that tourists, particularly those from Europe and North America, travel during that period because these are the coldest months for them. There is great demand for the Caribbean and little, if any effort at all, is required to get them to travel. This is why our hotel rates, for example, are highest at this time of year. Why, then, should we use up potentially our greatest tourist attracting capital during this period?
    The St. Lucia experience has also revealed that the country “wasted” this incredible resource when it held the festival during the pre-Lenten period and increased its capacity by moving it to a traditionally slow period. Figures obtained from the Caribbean Tourism Organization indicate that in 1998, St. Lucia welcomed 19,000 visitors in the month of July, 21,000 in 1999, but by 2000, the first year that carnival was moved, the number of visitors in July had reached nearly 27,000. That number fell somewhat in 2001, when the Caribbean tourism industry was going through difficult times, and even further in 2002, as a result of 9/11. But by 2003, tourist arrivals to St. Lucia in July had climbed back to over 26,000, in 2004 it neared 30,000 and surpassed that figure last year. However, the numbers for February remained virtually unchanged throughout that period – in the region of 23,000 to 24,000 visitors, reaching 28,000 last year. This clearly demonstrates, that while moving Carnival did not have any negative impact on arrivals in February, it certainly had very positive effects on arrivals in July. If St. Lucia can do it, so can Dominica.
    Meantime, Barbados, which does not celebrate carnival in February/March, received over 55,000 visitors in February and a further 60,000 in March. In July, the month during which it celebrates Crop Over, there were over 52,000 visitors. If Barbados can do it, why can’t Dominica?

    STRUCTURE OF THE FESTIVAL
    While a change of date is necessary in order to exploit the festival’s potential, that alone may not be enough. While Dominica boasts of having the most spontaneous carnival and claims the most traditional, it is necessary to add the powers of attraction. The emergence of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) presents the country with an excellent opportunity to build on the uniqueness of Dominica’s carnival. I therefore recommend that the celebration be open to all Caricom states, beginning with the street parades on Carnival Monday and Tuesday and the calypso competition.
    Over the past two decades or so, carnival organisers have been complaining about diminishing numbers on the street parades. The few sparsely populated bands do little to add to the attractiveness of the occasion, resulting in fewer onlookers and less business. Opening up the competition to other Caribbean countries will, first of all, have an immediate impact on Dominica’s tourist arrivals –in terms of the masqueraders and the family and fans who follow them – and on the spectacle of the event itself. Imagine the streets of Roseau on Carnival Monday and Tuesday with bands from Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, etc, and of course, Dominica, each adding its own unique touch, taste and flair. Imagine the media coverage of such an event.
    Similarly, opening the calypso competition to performers from other Caricom states will also add to our visitor arrivals, but will help raise the level of the contest and bring more attention on the country. I will deal with the issue of calypso in a little more detail later, but I envisage the overseas calypsonians being asked to participate in the local tents in order to qualify for the competition.
    I anticipate concerns about non-Dominicans “taking over our carnival and winning our local contests” and I will certainly understand and appreciate these concerns. However, I am convinced that it is in giving up a little that we can gain a lot, and whatever “nationalism” we give up here will be far outweighed by the benefits we stand to derive. Also, I believe that if Dominica does not do it now, it won’t be too long before some other Caribbean country recognises the potential and moves in this direction.
    STRUCTURE OF CARNIVAL ORGANISATION
    While carnival is seen as a national event, at present, activities organised by the state organisation, the Dominica Festivals Commission, are staged mainly in the capital. At the same time, the calypso contest, the final being possibly the largest money earner of the festival, is being staged by an independent group, the Dominica Calypso Association.
    While examples of two organisation running carnival do exist, I firmly recognise that in a country like Dominica with limited resources, the entire festival should be run by one statutory body mandated to make carnival truly national. This would mean the calypso competition will no longer be run by the DCA, which ought to concentrate on fully representing the interest of its members, raising the marketability of its members, and marketing its calypsos, among other areas of interest to local calypsonians.
    However, the DCA ought to be afforded the respect and attention deserved by the group that can almost singularly affect the festival. There should be adequate representation by the DCA on the organisation running the festival, and, recognising that the calypso final is a major money earner, the DCA should also be given a fair subvention every year.
    I mentioned earlier that in order for non-Dominican calypsonians to be allowed to participate in the calypso contest, they must first belong to a local tent, and, again, while I do not intend to delve into how the festival should be run, I envisage the calypso elimination being discarded and the judging for the semi final competition be done at the tents. This, I believe, would result in the creation of more tents and a higher level of competition. These tents should also be given an annual subvention.

    CLOSING
    I do not wish to suggest here that what I have presented is the only way by which Dominica’s carnival can be improved and the corresponding visitor arrival increase. However, I do hope it will be given serious consideration, since I remain convinced that we are yet to begin to exploit the economic potential of the festival. The goal here is to see us maximise this potential for the benefit of the country and every Dominican.

  13. Sout' Rebel
    February 27, 2012

    This article made some very salient points which needs pondering before we look at a change of date for carnival.

  14. Anonymous
    February 27, 2012

    Right about that

  15. SiangUK
    February 27, 2012

    Well put.

    Changing the date, does not/will not fix the problem.

  16. Anonymous
    February 27, 2012

    actually it was $250 million :)

  17. Pedro
    February 26, 2012

    Ok, so we change the date. How does that translate to more participation and a more successful carnival again? The real question is what makes Dominican carnival attractive! Why would or should the average Caribbean national or extra regional tourist want to come Dominica vs another island, eg St.Lucia? Is our product really that strong? I think you all know the answer.

    What about the argument about the economics and being too close to Christmas etc? Well, do people not take part in bands due to not having funds as monies were spent at Christmas or Independence? No. Its because the general public is not sold on the idea of playing costumed mas or anything other than come as you go. There are innovative ways of changing that. What about the planning part? Hey, you can give the organizers, two years to prepare and it will all come down to the same tired people and concentrating planning in a few short months.

    Oh and talk about budgets. If we have enough money for the bottomless Red Clinic we can surely allocate more funds to the promotion of Carnival, if its of that much strategic economic importance.

    Remember promotion starts from within. We have to convince Dominicans as a whole to start planning and sewing the seeds of creativity. This cannot be all talk. It takes resources, commitment, awareness, education, recognition,building and retention of talent. It has to be in yr face, in the backyard (pan, anyone?), in the incentives (costume design material duties, tax credit to sponsors, prizes, school contests, school musical instruments), and for all to see (where do the fabulous costumes go to die each year and why not have a carnival museum), where can I buy a carnival dvd, and why isn’t it more available?….I am sure you get the picture..there are so much more poignant issues to be addressed than the date.

  18. deep in thought
    February 26, 2012

    I couldn’t agree more!!!

  19. bellarina02
    February 26, 2012

    Bravo, Bravo.

  20. Anonymous
    February 26, 2012

    Bravo

  21. bone
    February 26, 2012

    WORD!!!

  22. tata
    February 26, 2012

    ?

  23. Very concerned
    February 26, 2012

    I fully agree with the views expressed. Additionally, Alwin Bully is the main promoter of a change of date but never has he suggested a date. Being the chairman of the Carnival Organizing Committee, one would expect Bully to at least suggest a date, but no, he leaves it in abeyance.
    Within the forty days of lent is out, in May students are writing CXC, June students are in final exams, July and August there are festivals all over the Caribbean and Dominicans, who can afford, are traveling. Then WCF is back again.
    The failure of Dominica’s Carnival has nothing to do with the date and everything to do with poor planning and lack of financial support from government.
    A private sector which is under severe economic stress cannot provide the sponsorship required. With the exception of Lime and Digicel, which private sector company can really afford any significant sponsorship? The few manufacturing companies are struggling to have their products on supermarket shelves and the others are importers who just buy and sell. The Chinese who are replacing our local businesses do not even put up sign boards much less to sponsor carnival.
    So the plight of Carnival is a reflection of the upside-down and back-to-front character of Dominica, this requires a major shift. To fix carnival in isolation of so many ills is a futile exercise.
    A change of date will be disastrous. Meanwhile, Bully should start planning Now for next year or we will be bombarded with the same shit in a years time.
    By the way, I do not participate in Carnival, I am Catholic, but I do not support the exposure of half naked obese women neither do I support the bastardization of Mr. Dominica with some feminine looking men, as displayed this year.

  24. Jespen
    February 26, 2012

    One who opposes and clearly gives his reasons for doing so. Rather very construction indeed.

  25. Cerberus
    February 26, 2012

    Some very valid points to which I would like to add:

    – Dominica’s population is barely 70,000 versus Trinidad’s 1.3 million
    – Trinidad has oil revenue versus Dominica’s ??? revenue.

  26. River Street
    February 26, 2012

    Very well said. Great respect for Mr. Bully his dedication andy hard work that I greatly respect. Your perspective is a very reasonable one. I do not believe changes will happen without a multi facet approach. I believe a task force with people like Alwyn Bully, Lennon Honeychurch, Raymond Lawrence, Swinging Stars, Calypso Association, Cultural division,Costume builders,Artist Tourist board,businessmen, government et al should convene and seriously take up the issues. Good luck.

  27. InCoGnItO
    February 26, 2012

    I totally agree with the writer of this letter i almost can think of nothing else i could add that i think would give there thought and ideas any more substance and leverage thats going to help strengthen there points except (i might be off ) joining the carnival dates with the WCMF in this case it might help save money in terms of stage set up lights venues sound systems etc Also our carnival culture would coexist wonderfully with the “creole culture” i could go more into detail but i feel readers will get the drift. Also more fights can be scheduled for that particular time period anyways just my 2 cents being added to already a magnificent piece by “A Carnival Lover.”

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