THA assemblyman: Tobago's resilience, creativity showcased during Heritage Festival

The African Emancipation Day parade and concert brought the curtain down on this year’s Heritage Festival, which, for the first time in its history, was held for a month and not the usual two weeks.

Speaking to reporters during African Emancipation Day celebrations at Store Bay, Crown Point, on August 1, Niall George, assistant secretary, Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, said the festival was a huge success.

“We have just concluded a very successful Heritage Festival. We had our constraints heading into the festival. But with all of that, we have seen the resilience and the creativity of Tobago being showcased, while still holding on to our heritage, values and morals of long ago. Culture is something that evolves, and we need to hold on to what has kept Tobago and Tobagonians being Tobagonian.”

The Plymouth/Black Rock assemblyman applauded the presentations of the villages which participated, especially those that returned to the event after many years.

“Moriah is a staple, and we know what we get from Moriah (Ole Time Wedding). But it was fun to see some aspects that were not part of the Heritage (Festival) come back and that was also the theme of the Heritage, We Come Back.

“My personal favourite was Golden Lane, because I almost fell off my chair in laughter. The production was solid after being missing for so long.

“Moriah, Charlotteville, they have cemented themselves in the calendar, and they are the ones we can tick off immediately. But to see the ones that were missing for a while getting back onto the calendar and performing so well...The production was great.”

Apart from bringing new talent to the fore, George said, this year’s festival also brought some economic activity to some areas of the island.

“It was just a smooth Heritage Festival. And we are looking at this as a base to move on to bigger and better festivals moving forward.”

He also defended the decision to host the festival for a month.

“The month allowed it to give other groups a chance to participate. When it is crammed into two weeks, it’s very hectic. It gives other groups that weren’t in the festival an opportunity to get back into the festival. There were some fringe events that were able to come off because of the extra time.

"So in my opinion, the one month was a success.”

A vibrant street procession, titled A People, A Legacy, A Journey To Freedom, from the corner of Pigeon Point and Milford Roads, preceded the cultural presentation at Store Bay.

The parade, which took place in brilliant sunshine, showcased various aspects of Tobago heritage, including the popular Moriah Ole Time Wedding, jab jabs, gorillas and moko jumbies.

Among the participating groups were Sisters In Culture, Zante Unique Touch, Kreative Kalabash and the Mt St George and Mason Hall Police Youth Clubs.

George also spoke about the roadblocks across the island. He believes licensing officers are “targeting” Tobagonians through the way they are carrying out their road exercises.

Over the past week, Trinidad-based licensing officers were deployed to Tobago to stage roadblocks as part of an anti-crime crackdown to address the island’s worsening crime situation.

Various units of the police were also involved in the initiative, which many Tobagonians found punitive and unnecessarily burdensome.

“It’s a ticklish position. I am saying that the licensing officers have to do their job and no one is against them doing their jobs.

"But to me, it is coming across like you are being targeted,” he said.

“Every time there is a big festival in Tobago, they arrive. But if you are doing your job all along, then you wouldn’t need this mass influx of licensing officers to get this in check.

"So I am saying we are encouraging licensing officers to do their jobs. But please do not make it come across as an attack on Tobago and Tobago’s economy.”