The Minister for Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives, Honourable Denise Charles, on December 2, 2020 announced that the Government of Dominica had cancelled Dominica’s 2021 Carnival celebrations. It was felt that the staging of Dominica’s Carnival in 2021 would be a health risk that the Government was not willing to take given that the Coronavirus pandemic had not subsided and the risk of further spread was high with mass gathering events.
At a Carnival Stakeholders consultation on January 13, 2021, Festival and Events Manager of the Dominica Festivals Committee, Marva Williams, further clarified what this means for event organisers seeking to hold events during the Carnival season. She said, “Carnival 2021 is a calendar of events, it is a brand. It is a product which is owned by the Government of Dominica, which means that the assets of the Carnival, the name, Dominica’s Carnival, Mas Domnik, the Real Mas, belongs to the Government of Dominica. So, if the Government says that Dominica’s Carnival is cancelled then no event organizer should use the phrases “Dominica’s Carnival”, “The Real Mas”, or “Mas Domnik” in the promotion of any initiative that they are having during the season in which the Carnival would have taken place.
Importantly, event organisers are reminded that all events must be approved by the Chief of Police and the relevant health authorities prior to promoting and hosting any event, and that all the health and safety protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19 must be adhered to once approval has been granted for their event to take place.
People, we are going through a pandemic. Carnival should be a non-issue. I would think that everyone’s health is way more important than “partying”. Think about how this virus spreads especially the “new strains”, which seems more deadly than the original strain. Everyone will be able to enjoy Carnival fully once this pandemic is brought under control. I could use a vacation right now, however, it is a non-issue for me. Staying alive is the name of the game. I have lost a few close friends to this virus, so I am doing all that I can to keep myself and others safe.
Oh my God Madam Minister, talk about wrong tone! Remember that it is Dominicans and their spontaneity, their free carnival spirit that created those brands long before you all were born! The real mas when Charlotteville meets Pottersville on the streets of Roseau and villages around Dominica played mas on the streets of their local villages like Grand Bay, St Joseph, existed long before your branding of everything! Your tone is rude and condescending to Dominica carnival creators and lovers: “It is a product which is owned by the Government of Dominica, which means that the assets of the Carnival, the name, Dominica’s Carnival, Mas Domnik, the Real Mas, belongs to the Government of Dominica.” This is the people’s carnival and belongs to the people of Dominica! You all acting like a Labour bunch of Johnny Come Lately or never-see-come-see-come -crazy! What next this Government will hijack from the people. Remember Creole Festival? That too was a people thing when it started!
I agree.
Carnival was born out of the belly of the people. Committees and governments were not involved. It was not conceived as a product or commercial enterprise. Restricting spontaneity is a sure way of bringing about its demise.
NO CARNIVAL IS NO CARNIVAL WHATSOEVER. Large gatherings have to be avoided and bars and entertainment spots has to have strict restrictions.
I agree. The govt should even put a curfew in place too. Too much liming and partying in that pandemic there.
There are many other ministries most needed attention too..like hanging those rapist and murderers and not feeding them good food to boast get FAT on our tax money get pampered by visitors and then they free its basically a good time for bad evil criminals
So no holidays for me…I don’t take part in carnival but I have my schedule for those days🙏
Interesting … I wonder if these names are trademarked…
So there for Amnesia can have their jump up in Roseau but they just cant use the names owned by the govt? Playing smart but your weave know you aint cleaver.
Im starting to like this new communist, new world order…
Not… 🙄
The animals which are more equal than others, will have no difficulty in hosting their events.
You can bet on that.