Tonge wants all hands on deck for Carnival

Tonge also wants a violence free Carnival
Tonge also wants a violence free Carnival

Tourism Minister, Senator Robert Tonge, has called for all hands to be on deck if the country is to realize a successful staging of the 2016 edition of Mas Domnik.

Tonge made the remarks while delivered the feature address at the official launch of Mas Domnik 2016 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium on Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Carnival is the biggest event being staged by the country since the passage of Tropical Storm Erika on August 27 and Tonge said Dominica is is now ‘counterpunching.’ Major events, such as the World Creole Music Festival, were canceled due to the storm.

“Dominica may have been rattled by Erika, however, we are now counterpunching as we all seek to bounce back in a vigorous fashion from the latest setback,” he noted.

However, he noted that everyone must participate to make Carnival successful.

“I wish to state that the staging of the successful Mas Domnik 2016 will necessitate all hands on deck. The Ministry of Tourism can’t do it by themselves, you can’t do it as yourselves as the contestants, organizers, everybody has to put their hands together. Many hands make light work,” he said.

The Tourism Minister is also urging all to remain violent free during the celebrations.

“Violence against any individual should never be tolerated especially against minors and our beautiful women,” he remarked. “We will work closely with the police and other stakeholders to ensure that our carnival is a safe one and free from violence.”

He reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue supporting carnival and to bring it to the best levels.

“I also wish to encourage all citizens to play their part in whatever small they can do as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”

Meantime telecommunications company FLOW, has announced its EC$ 200,000 partnership in cash and kind for Mas Domnik 2016.

General Manager of the company, Jeffrey Baptiste, described the company’s support for this year as a “significant investment.”

“I give you the guarantee that our support of our Carnival will be maintained through FLOW. This evening I wish to announce our partnership with the Discover Dominica Authority as a presenting headline sponsor of Mas Domnik 2016. This partnership is accompanied by a significant investment through cash and kind to facilitate Carnival activities this year,” he noted. “And although we generally don’t like putting a number forward but I think this is significant to put it to the record that for 2016, we will invest EC$ 200,000 towards the support of carnival.”

Baptiste also encouraged all to “fast-track” the country’s development and recovery by the things and the work that is done.

“And I think we need to turn carnival 2016 into a success story, we need to use it as a platform to compensate for the slippages and the gaps that would have been created from the cancellation of several events for independence but I think we now have a new opportunity to turn Mass Domnick 2016 into the most exciting, remarkable carnival we have had in recent years,” he said.

The theme for this year’s celebration is: “The spirit of the real Mas.”

The official opening for the carnival is January 16, 2016.

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23 Comments

  1. December 9, 2015

    I would expect the CARNIVAL to be a time to meet new people and make friends from across the island and abroad, an opportunity for tourists to see the arts and crafts of Dominica, and hear local musicians, a time to become acquainted with the produce and products of the island, and enjoy local foods, including your national dish.

    But what people tend to talk most about between carnivals is the alcohol abuse, the scantily clad ladies, the suggestive lyrics of the songs, and the young girls hanging around the bars for obvious reasons. I have read of inappropriate relationships that were forged during a carnival, and of young women who
    met a man who badly messed up her future by giving her something to remember him by. “It happened during carnival” seem to be famous last words.

    The best advice anybody can give is avoid things that could be harmful. If you attend the carnival do nothing you might regret. Stay in good company.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist…

  2. B VIDAL
    December 6, 2015

    TELL US HOW XMAS LIGHT U SEE IN TOWN

  3. B VIDAL
    December 6, 2015

    hand we almost cant not put down our hands down for xmas uuuuu talkin about CANAVAL

  4. dady b
    December 5, 2015

    we should. Call off that mas as well like we did with the rest becous more killing. Will go on whach

  5. D/can to de Bone (F)
    December 5, 2015

    DOMINICA is a share holder of liat and the government t need t find a solution with list in term of visitors coming home gor carnival 2016 not having g to overnight in Antigua . Before night landing we were able to come in Dominica the same day ftom Europe. Why the he’ll all airline are saying you must overnight in Antigua. IT IS SAID do.uni a is open to business yet o e flight a day travel yo Dominica a dam shame

  6. Shameless
    December 4, 2015

    Garson Roby STOP belching bubbles. You have made Ian look at a master at as a tourism minister. You are a failure and total waste of time. I hate to admit it but yes, you are the clueless in the position you now hold. Let me give you a little advise bro; ” Get a tourism professional to lead the ministry of tourism and resign”. :twisted: :twisted:

    Assertive, but Never Aggressive! :twisted: :twisted:

  7. Doc. Love
    December 4, 2015

    I agree with you, Mr. Tonge. All hands on deck, not on a bottle of kubuli as cautioned by Skeritt, after the passage of storm Erika, should the creole festival had taken place.

  8. %
    December 4, 2015

    Tonge what are you afraid of? Problems don’t go away by sweeping them under the carpet. Too many tourists are attacked on island. Get out of the Moo Moo mode that you are in,and let’s hear you publicly condemn these violent and vicious attacks. Is it that if you condemn these attacks Skerrit will cut your tail with a tamarind whip? Why can’t you get out of this mess which you are in man? Never thought that you would team up with such an incompetent gang!

  9. dissident
    December 4, 2015

    That all hands on deck ting is pure B.S!
    I not going out like de opposition parliamentarians.
    I tried dat all hands on deck joke and your leader failed me miserably!

  10. DomiChina
    December 4, 2015

    i did not her him call for all hands on deck when they cancelled WCMF
    something is really wrong with some people

  11. REAL!!!!
    December 4, 2015

    The Tourism Minister is looking to make carnival a success with only the locals it seems because they have not fix the access issue.

    With access to Dominica so difficult ( like a mathematical equation) and costly he knows he cannot depend on the diaspora coming home.

    Boy look a REAL COUNTRY!!!!!!!!

  12. Angry Tourist
    December 4, 2015

    Dear Tourism Minister, The most significant event effecting your Ministry since Erika was the armed robbery of 2 American tourists in Syndicate on Thanksgiving day. Yet your Ministry has not only done nothing about the security problem at tourist sites, the Ministry has not even commented on the incident. The only reason anyone knows any details about the matter is because the woman who had a gun put to her head wrote to DNO to describe the incident. I have read that capturing the “overnight stay” guest is the key for building Dominica’s tourism industry. Yet you are dismissive of issues that effect those guests such as the Liat debacle requiring an expensive overnight before arriving in Dominica, and your utter lack of concern for the safety of guests participating in activities you promote like parrot spotting in Syndicate. The latest Syndicate robbery (there was an identical incident in Syndicate in March) is a multimillion dollar crime against Dominica. Do something!

    • D/can to de Bone (F)
      December 5, 2015

      True say your comment is correct. I am not hearing nothering what is being done of the situation of that rubbery and also what is being done to about the situation of people coming home for carnival 2016 without overnight ing in Antigua. It’s a share and disgrace these two issues have not been address . Three are a numbers of friends of mine who would like to come to visit Dominica for their first from Europe but had to put it off because of having to overnight in Antigua. What shame minister.. Do something quick

  13. UDOHREADYET
    December 4, 2015

    Dominica recognized as all things natural and eco friendly in the Caribbean.
    https://www.yahoo.com/travel/these-are-the-most-underrated-1312859106508854.html

  14. Frank Talker
    December 4, 2015

    “The spirit of the real mas” is the theme for next year’s Feast of Bacchanalia (carnival). I pondered the theme over and over, and the word “spirit” keep resonating in my mind. Can anyone help me understand what the word “spirit” means in the theme? This is not a joke request; I honestly wish to be educated!

  15. December 4, 2015

    I know Labourites are ready and willing to play their parts in making the 2016 Carnival one of the best ever. The question is, will the trouble-making Uneducated Wicked People and their violent supporters allow us to have a peaceful and happy Carnival? Myself and a group of high-powered Labourites listened to the propagandist radio station recently and heard the brain dead supporters and some of their party leaders advocating for a violent confrontation with the police and duly elected blessed Dominica Labour Party Government. After listening to these we had a serious discussion on the best way to protect our precious Labourite comrades in the event that the evil plans of the Uneducated Wicked People should come to fruition. We, the true and dedicated Labourites assure you, our Labourite comrades, that we will deploy our police to effectively crush any uprising within the Country and that anyone who joins in this type of violence will regret it.

    • Doc. Love
      December 4, 2015

      One of the biggest uprising in Dominica was caused by a man who now seats in the White House built by the Chinese. He was put their by the Disorganize Lazy Party. :lol:

  16. Channel 1
    December 4, 2015

    Carnival. Puke. Yuck.

    Carnival – A celebration of vulgarity, lewdness, debauchery and drunkenness. And people have the brazen nerve to call it “our culture.” Absolutely sickening.

    And after behaving like the devil for two days, they then pretend to be sorry for their abominable ways and go asking God for forgiveness only to repeat the very same process the following year and henceforth.

    …….smh……………….apparently, the frightening soul-searching effects of Tropical storm Erika seem to have faded from the minds of the people.

    Mark 8:36 – For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (KJV)

  17. megso
    December 4, 2015

    Did anyone notice that most LIAT flights to Dominica from north require an overnight stay in San juan or Antigua. Are they trying to kill us or what?

    I know we no longer have night landing, but before we had night landing you could make it to DA in one day.

    Sorry I will NOT be making it down next year.

    • Malatete
      December 4, 2015

      Unfortunately you are right Megso. I can not see night flying facilities fully restored before carnival and international flights connecting in Barbados will also necessitate an overnight stay. Nothing has been said by the Ministry of Tourism how they plan to overcome this serious drawback.

    • Franklin Bruney
      December 6, 2015

      Yes you can make Dominca in one day by way of St.Maarten and Wainair

  18. Jesus_Was_A_Captalist
    December 4, 2015

    You only focusing on carnival! How come u was silent when they robbed the tourist at syndicate falls? :-|

    • MY 2cents
      December 5, 2015

      The minister wasn’t silent. You all wicked Duminicans that were silent. Many of you all know the criminals committing the different crimes around the island and do any of you all assist the police? NO. Typical Duminican, always blaming other instead of looking in the mirror and seeing the part we place

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