The Division of Culture laments the route adjustment for Ole Mas Festival this year

Due to the inclement weather the route of the most anticipated ‘Ole Mas Festival’ in St. Joseph was adjusted in order to provide safety for patrons.

During press conference on Thursday, Chief Cultural Officer Earlson Matthew announced that the route will begin in the entrance of Layou and proceed through the community of Layou along the link road on the Bayside, and then we enter St. Joseph.

However, due to the inclement weather, the route was adjusted for all and began  at the Kalleb Laurent Primary School, proceeding through the community of St. Joseph.

According to an announcement from the Commonwealth of Dominica Division of Culture, this change came with a heavy heart, as they truly value and look forward to the participation of the Layou Community. However, the safety of all participants and patrons must come first.”

Matthew announced last week that the Ole Mas Festival is an event that has become very popular and the purpose of the event is to highlight the traditional aspects of Dominica’s carnival, “ because they will always get its  time and place to shine in the midst of the contemporary aspects of the carnival.”

“So we want to give it its own time and place to shine. And sometimes we target communities hoping to bring that culture, hoping to give them that little nudge and bringing the culture to those communities in cases that it’s not very strong,” Matthew stated.

He emphasized that at the end of the exercise, the hope is that probably at the very least a traditional group is formed.

“ Like we did at Bath Estate last year, people were asking why Bath Estate last year and knowing that tradition is not a cultural community, but sometimes we have to bring the culture to these people,” he noted. “But on the other hand, of course we have to target the communities that are strong culturally.”

 In fact, he noted that Saint Joseph is one of the few communities that still uphold that tradition of carnival practice, “and it’s alive and kicking.”

A number of traditional groups formed part of the event which began at 4:00 a.m. (Saturday 24).