DJ Mario Russel comments on the inaguaral Tobago Carnival:
Tobago Carnival is now over and the focus in the next few months will be on the Greatest Show on Earth, T& T Carnival 2023. The weekly music releases are becoming hotter and hotter and it is time for local radio to start pumping up the jamz.
Reports about Tobago Carnival coming from underground sources are that promoters lost thousands of dollars hosting their events. In some cases, like the Burna Boy Concert, losses may have run into the millions. Because of the risk, next year there will be hesitancy among promoters.
Off course Officials will say the show was a success for a first-time Carnival and it will grow in time. It is a learning process and mistakes will be corrected. Many ask if it is worth spending millions of dollars to host a Carnival when the money could be put to better use. The goal behind a Carnival is to boost the local Tourism Industry. On the positive side, visitors did fly in to partake in the carnival but were the numbers of any significant value? We know the street revellers enjoyed themselves to the max and the financial impact means nothing to them.
To host a successful Carnival, there must be a lot of logistic planning and coordination with airlines and hotels etc. First of all, who is the targeted audience? Youths, Trinidadians, foreign visitors and returning residents. Are there enough flights, charters and boat sailings to cater for the increased demand? Secondly, the availability of accommodation in Tobago. Are the prices affordable to the average youth who will be the main supporter of the carnival events.? By the time you add up, accommodation transportation and the cost to play mas and go to the events you looking at a 5,000-minimum expense. Yes, some can afford but for many, it is out of their reach.
The Burna Boy Concert was held on a rainy Wednesday Night. Obliviously if was held on the weekend the turnout would have been greater. As much as people love Burna Boy the cost to go to the concert was too high for the average youth and therefore only catering to a niche market.
Experienced promoters know before planning an event to attract a large audience they have to look at the time of year and also the weather pattern. Trinis frequent Tobago in large numbers during the holiday periods, like the summer months and at Easter time. October to December are the rainy months and will attract fewer visitors.
An increase in visitors means there is always a risk of someone falling sick or getting injured. Therefore, hospitals have to be on alert. Many people may not be aware that Tobago hospital as good as the service is does not have a Coronary Care Unit. They can do the basics like ECG or Echogram but to do advanced procedures like an Angiogram, one has to go to Trinidad. Hopefully, this will be addressed soon but for the time being anyone getting a heart attack will have to wait it out until they can be transferred to Mt Hope. When they do get the approval to be transferred to Mt Hope, there is always some story with the helicopter service. Even at Mt Hope, there is no space in the wards and like many, they have to spend their time in the corridors waiting on a bed. The voice of the oppressed is silent but one can only imagine the pressure a heart attack patient has to face coming from Tobago.
Politicians like to get up on a platform and boast to the people about their achievements. After all, it is not their money and whether it is spent wisely or not there is very little accountability. We can’t put the horse before the cart or as they say “keep spinning top in the mud” and end up nowhere. We can’t do things helter-skelter for political gain without carefully taking into account the pros and cons. In order for Tobago Carnival to be a true success there need to be lots of logistic planning and a collaborative effort not only by Tobagonians but by everyone associated with the Carnival industry. Politicians for political gain try to divide the people making them feel that they are oppressed by one another. We are one vibrant nation and we know unity brings strength. Bob Marley said, “one love let’s get together and feel all right”.
