Challenges but Heritage Festival goes on

Tobago Festivals Commission Ltd (TFCL) chairman Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus says managing the 2020 edition of the Tobago Heritage Festival during the covid19 pandemic has been challenging.

“With the ever-changing protocols, planning and executing the festival has been full of challenges,” she told Newsday last week.

“As a result, several adjustments have had to be made in relation to the festival and activities have been undertaken in keeping with the new normal.”

A pre-recorded four-part series airing the Miss Tobago Heritage Personality has been a hit on social media. The second part of the series was posted on Tobago Festivals' Facebook page on Saturday and attracted 10,000 views and over 1,400 comments.

Tsoiafatt Angus said despite the restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus, the commission has put its best foot forward in hosting the island's signature cultural event.

Tsoiafatt Angus said the launch of the festival was held virtually instead of the customary in-person event and featured speeches by Assistant Secretary in the Division of Culture, Tourism and Transportation Shomari Hector and cultural stalwarts.

She said the launch gave viewers an opportunity to reminisce by showcasing memorable clips from past heritage festivals.

“It also provided insight of what the festival would entail for 2020 with the national restrictions in place.”Working within the stipulations established at the time, Tsoiafatt Angus said the commission was able to stage live events such as the African Drum event, which was held at the commission’s head office at GNV Place, Scarborough, on July 31.

She said this event heralded Emancipation Day on August 1 and provided the opportunity for entertainers to practise their craft.

Tsoaifatt Angus said the event was streamed live on the commission’s Facebook page to ensure the wider population and others would continue to enjoy the festival.

She said the Emancipation concert – Roots, An African Story, was held at the Magdalena Grand Resort, Lowlands, to “a limited, socially-distanced audience.”

“The event featured a diverse mix of entertainers who performed and left the space immediately following their performances.

“All persons within the space were required to undergo temperature testing, wash hands and wear masks.”

Tsoiafatt Angus said the format of several of the festival’s food events also had to be altered because of the covid19 restrictions. These included the Delaford and Black Rock Food Friday which were curbside pick-ups.

She said a similar event was to be held at Pembroke “but it was cancelled after the most recent restrictions were put in light of the increasing incidence of covid19 among the populace. She added menus for these events were posted on social media and people were encouraged to call in orders.

Tsoiafatt Angus said masks were provided to participants and patrons as well as the infrastructure to support the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.

She said the Ole Time Harvest at Roxborough and a production of the short film on the Moriah Ole Time Wedding were cancelled since it was felt that these events could not be accomplished while adhering to a limit of five people gathering.

Tsoiafatt Angus said the Heritage Historical Hunt replaced the Games We Used To Play, which has been traditionally produced by the Mason Hall community.

“To ensure adherence to the restrictions, a treasure hunt-like event was adopted, which saw participation of nine teams with a maximum of four people each.”

Tsoiafatt Angus said teams were required to follow clues to locate Tobago’s historical sites in the north, east and west of the island.

“Each participant, as well as workers and organisers, was provided with face masks by the commission and temperature tested before the event, with sanitisers and hand-washing facilities provided on site.”