Party promoters call for dialogue with Govt

The TT Promoters Association (TTPA) is calling for greater dialogue with the Government as it relates to the entertainment industry and Carnival.

At a press conference at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, on Friday, the association made several requests, among them: a seat at the table of decision making, a change in messaging around what the industry does, discussions about Carnival 2022 and discussions about a path to safely reopening the entertainment sector.

The association’s president Jerome “Rome” Prescilla and its advocate, Paige De Leon chaired the conference. Rene Ortiz is the association’s vice president, Dereck Douragh, treasurer; Colin Miles, secretary; Dwayne Norbriga, director; Simon Baptiste, director; and Kwesi Hopkinson, director.

Speaking on the association’s behalf, De Leon said there was a disturbing trend in the narrative that was fuelled about events, Carnival and the people who work in the industry.

“Make no mistake, we are clear that the story that is being told by those who do not live by this bread is destructive for all. Events are not a joke, the business of tourism (which we are successfully engaged in) is not a joke. Carnival is not a joke, it is not a nuisance, it is not a space where people end up. Ours is not a vie-ki-vie business.”

She said to even the suggestion of having a discussion about events or about how the industry goes forward to reposition and restart activities is deemed unpatriotic and irresponsible by some.

De Leon said the association knew there was a pandemic and was aware of the law, but was confused as to why the approach to the sector was so unnecessarily heavy-handed.

“The playing field is not levelled, because for us any breach means we are flogged in the square of public opinion, our industry further trivialised with scoldings and threats, while others are given a free pass to create environments of risk.”

It questioned Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell’s statements that people who attend events must not dance and must remain seated.

“We have to ask are we seeing the beginnings of a ban on wining in our country? Is it now illegal to dance in public in TT? The absurdity of such a notion is self-evident, it is not lost on us, and it is a real concern. Where does this end? We make our first ask today, kindly offer clarity to the nation on this point?”

The association asked where does it go from here in this atmosphere, when the country’s event producers have not been consulted by the state, during the pandemic period.

It thanked the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) president Gregory Aboud for “his genuine attempt to articulate how Carnival could happen.”

The association, which also met with Police Commissioner Gary Griffith on Thursday, thanked him and his team for initiating collaboration with the TTPA and said the parties had fruitful and beneficial talks and agreed that the best approach is to work together.

Something can still be done

Asked if something can still be done for Carnival 2021, Rome said there was still time to “put on a showcase.

“A showcase of different elements of Carnival.”

He said it was too late to experiment with a live parade. He could not see how that could happen within a month as there were too many protocols that would have to be put in place to control not only the parade but also the spectators.

He said different elements of Carnival could still be showcased virtually but with the support of Government and corporate TT. He thanked corporate TT saying it stepped forward and supported a lot of the virtual events. However, he said the discussions needed to take place now.

Sekon Sunday

Addressing what took place at the Sekon Sunday event, Rome said he was the event’s host and saw all of the protocols that were put in place.

The event was held on January 10 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. It was a mix between the virtual and live and saw people dancing in their seats. Videos of it led to Griffith saying that it would be investigated.

Rome said, “We saw that as a model event moving forward, where you have a hybrid between live events and virtual.”

He added that there would be some "tweaking" of how it took place.

He said it was recommended by the commissioner, and the association agreed, to have at least one police officer present in every virtual event.

Rome said the association did not agree on the restriction of movement at the events. He said there were a lot of corporate and religious events that happen where one can stand in their seated space.

“Why is when soca music or chutney music or other genres of music play and people stand in their place and dance and enjoy the music, it is deemed as though it is a crime? Aren’t we allowed to enjoy ourselves even though we are in a pandemic within the protocols.”

He added that the association was not here to fight against the Government protocols.