Dominica Festivals Committee (DFC) Consultant, Val Cuffy is expressing concerns over a number of groups which did not show up for Carnival in Roseau although they received financial assistance from the government through the DFC.
Cuffy who was addressing a press conference held at the DFC office on Wednesday said the DFC is “not happy” with that sort of behavior.
“We also want to appeal to the Carnivals in the other areas who did not show up and received support from government that we are going to monitor you very closely because we are not happy with that sort of behavior,” he warned.
Cuffy continued, “Once you have received support from the government through the DFC and Discover Dominica Authority, you owe us your presence, not to just take the money and do whatever it is.”
He said the DFC plans to hold discussions with the groups to further address the situation.
The DFC had earlier announced that several communities had agreed to participate in the Traditional Band Parade on Carnival Monday in Roseau.
Groups from Portsmouth, Kalinago Territory, St Joseph, Mahaut and Grandbay were given transportation assistance and a “contribution” for their participation the parade.
Cuffy did not say which group was a no show.
In Dominica alone… can you find people dumb enough to spoil a season… for shitty POLITICS.
How dumb are you? Verify today.
Skerrit KILLED Christmas…
Linton MURDERED Carnival…
Who is targeting the rest? Still got Independence…etc.
Can you imagine organizers in TnT asking people in San Fernando to go Port of Spain for their carnival because there’s too much carnival in Trinidad? What has this guy been smoking?
It is obviously disappointing that they were given financial assistance, and did not show up. They were entrusted with the money and expected that they would show up.
It is unethical of them not to show up when they accepted the money. What was their reason for not showing up? You must inquire why. However, they did not appreciate the assistance. They cannot be trusted. You should exclude them next Carnival.
HAS VAL FORGOTTEN THAT CARNIVAL IS IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, WHEN SLAVES TOOK TO THE STREETS INTERNATIONALLY TO CELEBRATE? We should not centralize carnival celebrations! Slavery was not only abolished in Roseau!
Rural people hae become smart, smart, smart. They are economists. Why pay money to go to roseau when you canenoy yourself in your community.
I think that Val and the others advocating for a grand spectacle in Roseau on Carnival Monday and Tuesday as tourism product is ambitious. But even so we must not forget or ignore the reason for Carnival which is a ritual of a time of enslavement and every time it is done it should be in rememberance of our 2 days of freedom. Having said that, I find it quite ridiculous to ask persons to abandon their traditional village rituals to come to Roseau for a spectacle. This tradition is bigger than a spectacle and should be respected as such. Find another way to promote Carnival in Dominica as a tourism product that will include as many hubs as possible.
Sorry @ Will…..that would mean thinking outside the box. You see, tunnel vision is a by-product of incompetence.
“Groups from Portsmouth, Kalinago Territory, St Joseph, Mahaut and Grandbay were given transportation assistance and a “contribution” for their participation the parade.” Serves you right, why pick and choose who gets help or I get it now only labour supporters. Better luck next year.
i thought you all said carnival was successful…! so why cry and complain?
Very good point!
Because Amnesia now setting in????
Assertive?
It shows you all that the people from the country side are not country bookies; you all come only when there is a festival. During the months of the year we are not recognize us not even in the port of entries you all have no video of our carnival to lift us up. How many of your decision makers are from the country side? To earn respect you must respect others. When you all take carnival seriously and give due respect there will be a better participant. I f everything is for the young tell them do what the old can do, beat their own drum and dance their own tune, pay us money not stipends
Val msy be it is the way thst government fish out the people’s money. The government has axtrack record of putting money into the hands of their cronies even when some of these people have a bad track record on handling public funds
Val I agree with the people not to show up because you don’t take tax payers money to give to groups to participate in carnival parade it should be the other way around, in North America groups have to paid their own way to take part in the parade. Government makes a donation to the carnival committee as a start up cost it’s not use as an incentive to join the parade . Val you and the Government better learn to respect all the people.
Dominicans it’s time that you celebrate carnival in your own villages come to Roseau for Queen, Princes and Calypso shows then back to your village. Government is in everything look what happened at the calypso show and if we allow it to continues carnival will be a thing of the pass.
Val why don’t you tell us why you quit and they had to beg you to come back !.
You have to pay groups to go in parade??? Never heared that…. in some countries groups pay to be part of the show…
Why are you surprised? If they remained in their villages and played Mas, they would not need the money.
Consider it positively, as encouragement for them to be in the Traditional Band Parade in Roseau. They may not have funding to purchase costumes and other paraphernalia. They would also have to hire transportation. For this reason they were provided with financial assistance. It is deceitful that they took the money and did not show up.
Not Granbay. Gov’t and DFC owes it to SAKIS for putting on that massive carnival free, yes FREE for 20 years and should finance it every year. You don’t understand the scale and importance of SAKIS in Granbay for jouvert? If you did you’d do the only sensible thing, encourage, finance it, and support them to put on this grand jouvert and carnival in Granbay that they have been doing without any gov’t support, just on their own. Do you know how much they were promised only for transportation and a few bottles of Loubiere water?
So what is your point, everyone come to Roseau carnival Monday? I want some of what u smoking pal. Too many incompetents want to be consultant, judge, etc. How about new bodies given opportunity managing these things and stop with that who knows who isht. Think outside the box to make Roseau mass grand and come again.
Yes I boy Dominica, everything under water the boat sinking, If you ain’t coming to Dominica for the trees and the Mountains Idk what else you can come here for because that’s all that nice in the country.
So all u expect country ppl to abandon their village carnival and come play mass in roseau…smh
What crap is this about Country People. We are all Dominicans, and Dominica is all of us country. Time to stop referring to people not from Roseau as “Country People”. When we are filling out our necessary forms ect what do we insert as Country ?
I am from country. I only think that what Val is trying to achieve is to make Mas Dominik. I do understand every area has its own way of celebrating but in the end it is also being marketed to foreigners. More people concentrated in an area showcasing what makes each unique, the bigger the spectacle. The cruise ships come for a day and it docks in Roseau and Portsmouth; so this is where the tourists are going to be and one of the groups Dominica is marketing to.
You don’t get it do you The carnival is the people’s own thing, not for tourists alone. If that was the motivation we would have a carnival on the bay front every time a cruise ship is in port. When carnival becomes a business it no longer is carnival.
Val,
Behave yourself! I find you well outa place! The money is Skerro money, our PM. He does give us more than dat when we call him directly so whats your stress Val?
Go and do your work they paying you for and leave the red kids alone.
Dominica nice Val!
You see Val they thought it was just another handout that had no strings attached except to vote for His broomstick come election
So the next time, have them sign a contract so that the money is tied to their participation. So on what basis was the money handed over to these groups? You just signed over money with no strings attached?
You should not be blaming these groups, you should be embarrassed for being dupes.
Val boy, I have to laugh you know. So long your on this earth and still so gullible. Of course, these people will take the govt. money and enjoy themselves and don’t see anything wrong in it because it is tax payers’ money anyway. I am not saying this is right but that is the way of the world. That is one lesson about carnival Val, neither church nor government can own it. Sue them if you want and you will have another carnival, in court this time.
I would like the Dominican public to take a page from those groups that take the CBI money and don’t show up for the parade on Monday and Tuesday, to do the same when it comes to the general elections, take the money, the galvanize, the plywood and don’t vote the corrupt SKERRIT administration any more, who vex lost
Well if they received assistance to participate in the parade they should have been there. Next time sign a contract. Show up or pay it back. In terms of the country carnivals clashing with Roseau, I agree that maybe it could be more of a collaborative effort. Give the country councils their day for carnival (before the official Monday and Tuesday), and on the Monday and Tuesday everyone come to town. Just a thought. Or meet with the various village councils and have a discussion to see what works best for everyone. Just please make it civil lol. People can get real ignorant boy.
DA girl,
Please give me a valid reason why everyone should come to Roseau for carnival. The government pick and chooses who should receive funds. If you voted for the DLP you are entitle to funds if you did not vote for the DLP your are not entitle to funds. This can be proven. The people of Marigot were denied funding because they are not one of the seats that’s is currently held by the DLP. We the people of Marigot are left to fend for our selves. Why should we not hold our own carnival festivities in Marigot. We need to support our local vendors. What does Roseau has to offer that some of the other villages can’t offer to it’s residents. Personally i think the people from other villages should stay away from Roseau carnival.
DOMINICA TRADE HOUSE AND Dominican – nowhere in my comment did I say to cut out country carnival. I would not support that at all. What I’m saying is that the various communities should have their carnival on assigned days. That way persons will come from all over to participate and support. I myself like my Mahaut carnival and I like Roseau carnival and I would have to choose or do half in Mahaut and half in Roseau. I have never experienced carnival in Portsmouth or Kalinago Territory or Marigot and would like to. So what I’m saying is we are spreading the money too thin. If we all go and support a community the vendors there would fare better with a bigger crowd. Then on Monday and Tuesday persons come to town and make it a huge affair. There is no limit on the number of vendors who can sell. This may not make sense to either of you but I’m seeing it as a way to ensure everybody benefits, and not just make a ‘little money’ but make an excellent profit.
OR maybe just leave DA carnival how it is , not all change is good. Do your Roseau thing and let people do their country thing. The govt still have to help cuz we all paying taxes not Roseau people alone remember that. Roseau cannot take everybody in DA for carnival and even if it could not everybody can or want to go Roseau that’s plain selfish
Too much POLITICS!!!!!!!!
I am happy you pointed this out Mr. Cuffy. I really find it did not have as much groups as I would usually see. Make them sign a contract stating they have to participate once they receive that assistance check. If they are a no show, let them repay the funds.
Well I guess it isn’t working with you, so you must give up your reign and let the people who doesn’t have axe to grind take over. Nobody wants to work with you because you have infused your political ideology to deep into our culture. Val get out and let the younger generation give us our culture back.
Hahahah boy look things on the nature isle. Anyway I enjoyed my carnival in both country and city locations. I think val better leave the country side carnival as it is. Maybe new groups or offshoots from those big country groups could participate in town just to please Val and make a lil change.