Burris: Stakeholders must manage Tobago carnival in future

REMINISCENT of Chief Secretary Farley Augustine's statement on the management of Tobago Jazz Festival, THA Secretary of Tourism and Culture Tashia Burris on October 21 said the aim of the THA is for stakeholders to take the leading role in the island's October carnival.

Burris was speaking during a cheque distribution ceremony at Shaw Park Cultural Complex ahead of the October 25-27 festival. Of the $9 million budget, carnival stakeholders received $2 million.

The island is expecting an avalanche of Trinis for the festival, currently in its third year, Inter-island sailings and flights have been fully booked for the carnival for the past two weeks as stakeholders anticipate this year to be the biggest.

International visitors are also expected with as many as 12 events scheduled for October 26.

Burris said the THA does not only want to support stakeholders in fulfilling their dream, but hopes one day to pass the baton to them to manage the festival.

"We want to get to the place where the...(THA) has no involvement in planning, and the people who are managing and implementing the festival are working alongside the government – but they are taking the lead to make sure the product is uniquely Tobagonian."

Tobago Festivals CEO Kern Cowan agreed with the message.

"We are interested in who our stakeholders are and how we are supporting them. We are interested in growing this orange economy to a place of sustainability – not dependence, but sustainability."

He predicted that in the future "we will see a different Tobago.

"Can you imagine five years from now when we are looking to you for sponsorship how that would feel? How it would feel for you to say, 'You now what, I want to sponsor carnival this year.'

"Wouldn't that be an amazing feeling?"

He urged stakeholders to not take the sponsorship lightly and see it as an investment.

"I implore you to be a partner, fly your flag high and put forward a product....raise your bar so high that it is recognised on the international stage."

Burris said the aim has always been to create a festival that was unique to Tobago.

She said apart from the numerous fetes which the public can look forward to, the THA has sought to add elements that grow the industry and the product.

"This year we've partnered with (Tobago mas maker) Anya Elias and her production team to train persons in mas production."

She noted in 2023 the Tobago Performing Arts Company had a musical titled Queen of the Road, which was a tribute to the legendary Calypso Rose, a Tobagonian, who will be on the island for the carnival.

"Every year we come with something different," Burris said, adding that masqueraders are sure to feel the vibe on the road.

"We probably got it right with the marketing this year," she added, noting that they've sought to attract visitors from as far as London.Burris said visitors will feel the warmth of the island when they arrive.

"The thing that makes a Tobago carnival different is to not just come to the destination to fete and have a good time, but you experience everything the destination has to offer. From the sights and sounds, to the food, the culture, to the coming as a stranger and leaving as family.

"That is something that is extremely important; because the one thing we want to ensure is that persons who come Tobago to enjoy the carnival not only come to enjoy festivities safely but they leave the island feeling like Tobago is their second home."