With $1-million dollars needed to host Carnival and with the 2016 season under some serious financial strain, promoter of the event for the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) Val Cuffy has suggested some type merger of the island’s two largest telecommunication companies to host the event.
He is of the opinion that two of them coming together could assist the Carnival product.
“We have two powerful companies in Dominica, we have FLOW on one end, we have Digicel on the other end,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. “It’s time that the two of them fall in love briefly for six weeks in Carnival, look at the Carnival product as a whole…”
He stated that DDA and the Dominica Festivals Committee (DFC) need to be more creative and involve all stakeholders to advance the Carnival culture.
“We have to be creative because we are at our life’s edge now looking for support,” he noted.
He said Tropical Storm Erika has shown Dominicans that, “the time has come that we have to move all barriers, and I think now is the time for the Carnival to open up its doors.”
He noted after the Erika, even the two major political parties in Dominica came together, albeit briefly.
“I know there is the conflict of both parties not wanting to love each other but we saw the love relationship that happened after Erika with the opposition leader and the Prime Minister, it lasted for two weeks but that was good,” he explained. “If the government can last for two weeks I think that FLOW and Digicel could probably create that type of environment…”
He believes that if the companies, along with other businesses and the government come together to provide financial support for Carnival, they would be able to meet the required amount of money needed.
“If we get $200,000 from FLOW and we can get $200,000 for Digicel, that’s $400,000 and if we get $300,000 for the government that’s $700,000 and if we get additional support from other companies that could bring us to at least close to the million dollars that we need to do Carnival,” Cuffy noted.
Is carnival an income earner to Dominica?
If it is can someone give me the figures?
If it is not, why are we not making it make money so it can run itself?
Just asking …..
With profits exceeding $1m where is Domlec?
Perhaps the old model of financing carnival no longer works. We have always had free jump up, but someone has to pick up the tab for that freeness. It might not be top of mind to those who are on the streets having their fun, but someone has to pay for the truck, the gas, the generator and all the other bit and pieces of musical equipment that goes to making carnival a success.
Trinidad recognized that years ago and there is no freeness to carnival any more. I think they have gone so far that way that carnival is beyond the means of many people to enjoy.
Mark my word, at some point people who want to enjoy carnival may have to dig into their pockets to pay for their enjoyment. You can only go to the well to beg for so long. Eventually the tap is going to be closed.
The going is going down slowly. You doh see how much money we are raising for non causes. Business people are on their bending knees. They refuse to pay their taxes yet they donating to help the novice and to sponsor the UWPwee. You never see the light. Not a Penny pledged by them for Erica. What are our priorities? We are not patriot. All we see is our pockets. The Banks and Union make millions of dollars per year in profits and not a dime for the the Queentestants. Every year is Lime Flow and Digicel that making the effort.
My position is quite simple. No Money means No Love. NO Money means No bloody Queen Show. The organizing Queen Show people should say that if all the girls are not sponsored by 22th January then the Show should be called off. I think the girls should go on a Queen Show Strike as of next week and ask for a refund for all the money they have spent. WE TOO WICKED IN DOMINICA. DOMINICA NICE NICE NICE NICE. i
OH before I forget Linton can give up the $20k xtra…
@DCP MADMAN…Idiots will always be idiots according to my old father! The businessmen in Dca including the Chinese have realized that if they continue to give and receive nothing in return Crapo will soon smoke their pipe. Thats why they spent their money on UWP and Lennox according to you. You see, they see hope, and a better future for the country if they address the problem Lennox got into while fighting for us all. Yes you, me and all Dominicans.
So STOP you karkar and tell the DFC do their work and STOP allowing the 1 man government to push them around. He just cat keep his hands off our institutions. Bu the way, you know if no queen show is ADIOS for Mr. Piper and a few others because El Supremo will never admit things are very very bad in the country and even the queen contestants are SOUSAYING SEL!.
Assertive, NEVER Aggressive!
Aren’t we fed-up of asking the same people, year after year, to sponsor carnival? When a business sponsor’s an activity, they usually attempt to ascertain whether they will be asked to sponsor the following year. Recipients of sponsorship should build capacity so they will not have to return to the same sponsor year after year. It is annoying to have to beg FLOW and DIGICEL everytime we want to do something in Dominica. Why can’t DFC and DDA engage in commercial activities in order to fund their activities? Why can’t US$1 from the US$5 paid by every cruise ship passenger who disembarks in Dominica be diverted to cultural financing? During the US embargo on Cuba, the latter made millions of US$ by requiring US airliners to pay a fee for travelling through Cuban airspace. The airliners had no problem with this because it would cost them more to fly around Cuba. Listen, let’s think a bit more; let’s explore all the opportunities we have; and give those same businesses a…
Great idea Val maybe someday – one day soon – we will learn to work together!
it is unfair to ask digicel to donate anything. they gave half a million for ericka
Val..Question..Have you gone to the companies and requested a meet? Calling on them using the media is not best medium to reach out. Go to them and discuss. There may be company policies preventing such collaboration. Stop talking..Start walking!
Carnival is tourism product/activity. Why can’t a mere EC$1M be included in the National Budget for carnival? This begging is putting us in very bad light as a country. Then we wonder why people go Trini instead of coming here? We treat carnival like a favor to citizens. It’s time we stop looking at carnival as a reveling activity and start looking at it as an income generating activity.
I think that’s a great idea VC, both companies can promote their produces at all the evens
and still keep the competition going between the two communication giants
WIN WIN ALL THE WAY . get it done
During election , foreign bands like carimi and artist like destra etc came Dominica. So many action all over the place. I think labour party can sponsor carnival? Let them pay the million. Skerro empty the wallet
A million dollars for carnival? What dominiuca needs right now is a big gospel concert and praise and worship night in the stadium. That is money gone waste. Enough families need financial support also. Carnival is not a must!
pani largent o largent passport la
well Skerro can always ask those friendly governments he boast of having so much..or just cancel carnival if theres no money…
Come on Val be real. Two arch rivals coming together and pool resources to save your puny carnival?
It is really questionable, who would get the most exposure for their money…or benefit from their competitor’s money to get exposure, you own message being diluted by that of the competition. I don’t think so. For a start their respective owners would not permit it.
Carnival comes originally from the people. Let them pay for it. I have to pay for my own entertainment, why shouldn’t others?
PS. Val, if you want to commercialise carnival why not just franchise it and be done with, just like the Olympics. Give them exclusivity. At least it would look tidier and more professional than now. Make a deal with Pepsi for instance (KFC and PizzaHut are part of that I believe). Problem solved.
But But But.. When did carnival get so expensive to Host. And what are you all doing with the monies made from previous year. Questions Questions Questions. Please show us the bank statements.
Channel 1 is about time Marpin remove you from the channel list! I so fed up with your ridiculous judgmental comments. Of all things under the sun you want to terminate carnival? what is it about carnival that irks you so much? Then you guys turn around and use the same tempo and melody of the so called demonic music to suit you by adding “Praise God” and “Alleluia” quite ironic!
Beg beg beg beg beg. What is in it for the companies? Dominicas are dead set on charity. Too much begging. Be innovative Bull. Year aftwr year you cannot expect companies to just through monies at you.
cancel carnival………its not profitable. its just a big mess. when things are cleaned up and a better carnival experience can be offered, then bring it back. until then shut down carnival. promoting t -shirt bands…..nonsense
Domlec making money like tower. I am sure they have plenty they can contribute.
Amen
You know what. I would prefer them lowering their bills instead!
Val, Hold a radiothon like Linton. See what you get
.
You see that, Lennox Linton more popular than carnival! Wow! Skerrit better watch it!
It’s about high time that this abomination called carnival be terminated once and for all. I hope right-thinking companies don’t waste their hard-earned money sponsoring that vulgar, lewd nonsense festival.
OO toe sot
Do not judge! The Bible did indicate a time for everything, a time to dance, a time for everything, but is how u do it. All who have no sins throw the first stone.
@Bella – Wait nuh, so you are telling me not to judge yet in the same breath you are judging me & claiming that I am judging? What is wrong you?
By the way, who told you [all] the Bible said we are not to judge? Where do you [all] get these erroneous doctrines from?
There’s absolutely nothing wrong in judging or making a judgement.
According to a dictionary source, the word judge can be defined as “[to] form an opinion or conclusion about.” Are you Bella trying to tell me that I should not form an opinion or conclusion about something?
A beggar judges what food to take from or leave in the rubbish, drivers make judgements on the road, employers judge workers, ..etc.
The type of judgement Matthew 7:1-5 condemns is self-righteous judgement where one chastises another person for doing something while at the same time, that person is doing the very same thing they are condemning the other person for doing.
Please read the scriptures properly & in context okay.
I concur with Mr. Cuffy, in Antigua an other place everyone come together for a national event. So all companies of the same business come together and sponsor. Stop using Erika as an excuse.
You sound like a real church goer……… Notice what I said….
@DA4REAL – Okay. And I suppose you sound like one who is the opposite of a real church goer ie one who is hurtling full speed on the broad highway into Hellfire.
I pray that you surrender your life to Jesus Christ before it is too late. Hell ain’t no carnival.
* CHANGES CHANNEL