Plans for this year’s Lucian Carnival activities targeting the younger demographic were announced during a press briefing on Thursday.
According to Tamara Gibson, chairperson of the Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC), organisers have made a deliberate effort to carve out a dedicated space for Junior Carnival events to thrive.
“We have been hard at work, busy preparing for this year’s Lucian Junior Carnival,” Gibson said. “As you know, this part of the festival is what opens the season.”
Kicking off the Junior Carnival festivities for the second consecutive year will be the school tour, running from Monday, May 19, to May 30. Carnival ambassadors will visit schools across the island, performing and mentoring students.
“Last year was our first year, and it was very successful and well-received by the schools, so we are doing it again… the schools are ready to receive us, so we are ready to go,” the CPMC chair said.
Following the school tour, the Junior Calypso Competition will take place, alongside a new addition – the Junior Soca Monarch Competition – on June 6.
“We have been arranging workshops for the participants in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture as well as the Ministry of Education to ensure that we can produce yet another successful event,” Gibson explained.
She emphasised the importance of introducing a soca competition this year, noting that soca, including Dennery segment, lies at the heart of Lucian Carnival. “So we thought we should introduce our youth to that element of the competition just so that we can develop the art form and discover the next big Soca star,” she said.
On June 7, the Junior Pan Festival returns to Sab Vigie, building on last year’s success.
“Following a fantastic display of talent and skills last year, where we had seven schools perform… this platform really encouraged the players to continue to play because they knew this year was coming up, and they really wanted to be a part of it,” said Barbara DuBoulay, coordinator of the Junior Pan Festival.
This year, eight groups comprising 12 participating schools will perform at the festival.
Jason Bachelor Joseph, representing the Ministry of Education at Thursday’s unveiling, stressed the importance of supporting carnival and the arts. “It is something that has to begin at the schools, and currently, we do have a solid music programme, we do have some aspects of theatre at the schools. Dance, I think, is starting off, and so on. The arts are very important and we believe that this is where it begins if we want to have a successful art culture in Saint Lucia. Calypso, of course, is just one element,” Joseph said.
The Junior Carnival calendar will culminate with the Junior Carnival Bands Parade on Sunday, July 13. The chairperson of the Carnival Bands Association confirmed that eight bands have registered so far, with some already unveiling their themes.
Gibson believes that creating a dedicated space for youth within the broader carnival framework allows them to celebrate responsibly while embracing their culture. She added that this approach ensures the CPMC upholds the four core pillars of Lucian Carnival: Cultural Preservation, Sustainability, Responsibility and Inclusion.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Dr Ernest Hilaire expressed excitement for this year’s carnival, which he projected could be the biggest yet.
“The school tour is an exciting addition; this year, the introduction of soca is also very exciting, and we want to give the junior bands more support in terms of cash as well as logistical support,” Hilaire said. “We have to do so because the Junior Carnival is the foundation for what we have, and if you cannot ensure that the foundation is secure, you really have challenges later on.”
