‘… with thousands of people suffering from loss of jobs and closure of their business, begging for assistance, this Government is constructing six by six or eight by six coops for people to wine down the place.’
By Neil Gosine
FIRSTLY, we heard figures like $35 million then $30 million now we hear that the Cabinet has approved $15 million for 2022’s Taste of Carnival.
It has put aside another $5 million to help support other safe zone events.
An announcement was made on February 3, 2022, as Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell had to call a quick press conference to clear up figures being bandied around by the National Carnival Committee Chairman that the budget was between $25 million to $30 million.
The Government came under criticism after the initial figure of $25 million to $30 million would be spent on a Taste of Carnival with many quarters saying it is way too much to fend for this taste. It’s like leaving a bad taste in our mouths.
Minister Mitchell had to backtrack February 3 at a press conference by the NCC chairman claiming that figure was not finalised.
Many have come out to criticise, asking some pertinent questions like who is really eating ah food from this? Who will benefit from this $15 million spend? And what exactly will be the benefits in a Covid-19 stricken island? Within the backdrop of the Government cutting GATE for our citizens, they have cut the school feeding programme and indicated a signal to lay off two-thirds of CEPEP Workers.
Even the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association had chimed in saying that this Taste of Carnival should be held later in the year to allow better planning and so it will have a better impact on the world stage and with its stakeholders. I certainly agree with this approach.
There are many uncertainties with this rush approach to Carnival and it will be extremely difficult to plan any proper event or any type of initiative concerning this Taste of Carnival due to the time being too short, rushed and we really not sure what is going on.
It seems like just another way to misappropriate taxpayers’ money for a “eat ah food syndrome”.
While I’m unsure about if this plan event will be successful, I support Carnival, the artists, printers and the whole Carnival initiative as part of our kaleidoscope culture in our rainbow twin-island republic.
I do not want to give the impression that I do not support the idea or the initiative, it’s a good idea to showcase carnival and revive our country as the forerunner in the Carnival scene.
Our portrayal of Carnival and our connections to this art form is world-renowned. However, we seem to be rushing something that is not totally thought out and we have left out a major part of key players such as the local bandleaders, promoters, DJs and the essential part of Carnival. It would be better to get key stakeholders involved and consider having the event put together better at a later date.
Further, with thousands of people suffering from loss of jobs and closure of their business, begging for assistance, this Government is constructing six by six or eight by six coops for people to wine down the place.
I seriously wonder how a Government can be so out of touch with the hardships people are experiencing within our country. This is only for their friends, family and financiers because no one else in the country can afford these cover charges for the Taste of Carnival.
The PNM ministers and their families continue to enjoy the spoils of their plunder while everyone else suffers to make a living.
Neil Gosine is an insurance executive, the North East Regional Coordinator of the United National Congress and a former chairman of NP. The comments and opinions expressed by him in this column are not necessarily those of AZPNews.com, a division of Complete Image Limited.
A Bad Taste in Your Mouth
‘… with thousands of people suffering from loss of jobs and closure of their business, begging for assistance, this Government is constructing six by six or eight by six coops for people to wine down the place.’
FIRSTLY, we heard figures like $35 million then $30 million now we hear that the Cabinet has approved $15 million for 2022’s Taste of Carnival.
It has put aside another $5 million to help support other safe zone events.
An announcement was made on February 3, 2022, as Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell had to call a quick press conference to clear up figures being bandied around by the National Carnival Committee Chairman that the budget was between $25 million to $30 million.
The Government came under criticism after the initial figure of $25 million to $30 million would be spent on a Taste of Carnival with many quarters saying it is way too much to fend for this taste. It’s like leaving a bad taste in our mouths.
Minister Mitchell had to backtrack February 3 at a press conference by the NCC chairman claiming that figure was not finalised.
Many have come out to criticise, asking some pertinent questions like who is really eating ah food from this? Who will benefit from this $15 million spend? And what exactly will be the benefits in a Covid-19 stricken island? Within the backdrop of the Government cutting GATE for our citizens, they have cut the school feeding programme and indicated a signal to lay off two-thirds of CEPEP Workers.
Even the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association had chimed in saying that this Taste of Carnival should be held later in the year to allow better planning and so it will have a better impact on the world stage and with its stakeholders. I certainly agree with this approach.
There are many uncertainties with this rush approach to Carnival and it will be extremely difficult to plan any proper event or any type of initiative concerning this Taste of Carnival due to the time being too short, rushed and we really not sure what is going on.
It seems like just another way to misappropriate taxpayers’ money for a “eat ah food syndrome”.
While I’m unsure about if this plan event will be successful, I support Carnival, the artists, printers and the whole Carnival initiative as part of our kaleidoscope culture in our rainbow twin-island republic.
I do not want to give the impression that I do not support the idea or the initiative, it’s a good idea to showcase carnival and revive our country as the forerunner in the Carnival scene.
Our portrayal of Carnival and our connections to this art form is world-renowned. However, we seem to be rushing something that is not totally thought out and we have left out a major part of key players such as the local bandleaders, promoters, DJs and the essential part of Carnival. It would be better to get key stakeholders involved and consider having the event put together better at a later date.
Further, with thousands of people suffering from loss of jobs and closure of their business, begging for assistance, this Government is constructing six by six or eight by six coops for people to wine down the place.
I seriously wonder how a Government can be so out of touch with the hardships people are experiencing within our country. This is only for their friends, family and financiers because no one else in the country can afford these cover charges for the Taste of Carnival.
The PNM ministers and their families continue to enjoy the spoils of their plunder while everyone else suffers to make a living.
Neil Gosine is an insurance executive, the North East Regional Coordinator of the United National Congress and a former chairman of NP. The comments and opinions expressed by him in this column are not necessarily those of AZPNews.com, a division of Complete Image Limited.