Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, has reiterated his stance that all community carnivals should occur before the national event.
Last weekend, Belle Vue hosted Mas in Da Vue, the last of the many community carnivals.
This year, community carnivals were also held in Ciceron, Soufriere, Vieux Fort, Dennery, Micoud, Mabouya Valley, Gros Islet, and Anse La Raye, spanning July to early September.
However, national carnival events culminated in the city with the parade of the bands on July 16.
“When I started as Minister, my whole intention and I explained, was for us to have all community carnivals before the national parade, the national carnival. We really pushed for it and to even say that subventions would only be given to carnivals before the national as a way of forcing the issue,” Hilaire said.
Nevertheless, the Minister explained that some communities argued that their carnival had historical significance.
In some cases, some have had their carnival during the first weekend in August for the past twenty years
Gros Islet and Micoud are two communities that have carnivals in August.
“So to almost force it before the national, to them it was a bit difficult and we really tried to persuade them, we used a lot of moral suasion. We have not really enforced the threat that we will only give subvention to those who are before the national,” the Minister stated.
“Because we are acutely aware that August is Emancipation month and we want August reserved for that purpose,” he explained.
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Dr. Hilaire has also proposed that having the community carnivals before the main event could help build momentum for the national festivity.
“We really want all of them to be able to do so from the weekend after jazz ends to start community carnivals. But it has not exactly worked out that way, so we will continue to speak to them about it and to push them to have it before the national so that for us is critical,” Hilaire said.
“Also too, in terms of standards and procedures and how they manage it, how they organise, it will be a lot easier for us to set those standards and to police it and manage it, if it is within a season. But once you start going over the season, by which time everybody is already switching off to another activity it makes it a little difficult,” he noted.
In addition, Hilaire announced plans for a full review of Saint Lucia Carnival 2024, noting that organisers would introduce new events with more local and cultural relevance in 2025.
Plans for Lucian Carnival 2025 should be rolled out in October.
PHOTO: File image of Dr. Ernest Hilaire answering questions from news reporters.
Makes total and complete sense …
1 or 2 carnivals is more than enough. One for the people in the north one for south. Carnival is a pagan ritual nothing cultural about being naked in the streets. The culture has gone out of it long ago. This just invites the devil.
I agree with Hilaire and the previous commenter. Each community doesn’t need it’s own carnival esp since it is an event used to bring ppl together
@My Opinion Not Yours. Yup. Only sensible solution. Limited resources spread to thin and everyone gets garbage. North/South. Story done. You can see the thinning of both the spectators and revellers every year.
It is ok to have community carnival past national carnival. However, community carnival should only be a one day event on a Sunday. If they want a two day event have it at the same time as Castries Carnival.
Since all communities want carnival which is unnecessary…I am going to agree with Hilarie. Deal with all that loud music during that time period while ppl are still visiting.
It is amazing how everywhere Hillaire appears is the same set of friends and family who are around him. The same set of people fleecing off the coffers of the land. There are people suffering all over the island – especially down south, yet still there is no move to address their plight. Sad, but true
CIP diversionary tactics. One muses.
The changing of historical pre Lent MORAL celebration. Has now descended in an immoral debauchery and a prelude to impending nouveau Sodom and Gomorrah. The golden calf modern equivalent the Bum Bum wall.
The pretext to cover up the blood stained country as a government of ostriches with heads in the sand. This is no religious dogmatic ballast. It is a forewarning. The Lord God is Not Mocked.
We ALL have to account for every Intuition, thought and word individually. The Almighty DID NOT appoint governments. This does not negate the fact, even though they serve another heinous power. That prelude of trumphet blast has already herald God’s Judgement and Purification as we are approaching the impending hour of 12.
Before all Civilisation perished the last vile acts was immorality, lack of shame, debauchery, revellery and decadence.
One is draconian to say as an ACT of emergency ban carnival or WOE BE TIDE US!!!
Let the religious puritanicals shut up and go and pray in a corner and let others live their lives. Its always self nihilism steeped in biblical nonsense they want to condemn others with. One has to wonder how people cannot see their gullibility yet cast aspersions on how other choose to live. Religious indoctrination bordering on insanity…it’s always sky god will rain vengeance on the sinful…yet even the vast majority of biblical stories have no proof of ever happening. Yes carnival pagan, but so is most of the church practices itself are pagan in origin… Christmas…pagan, Easter…pagan, dying and rising god….pagan…the whole lot ..pagan….. Christianity just stole pagan rituals, rebranded it and sold it to your gullible twisted minds….
Let the people revel in their culture… nothing is wrong with that…
If any body see Hilaire while he jumping the carnival scenario tell him the residents of Marigot Terraces wish to see him in the community to discuss the worst road in St. Lucia. Tell him every vote counts
Yet more days off for a twerkfest. No one really likes to actually work on this island. Just keep taking handouts.