Tobago’s 2025 National Carnival production is being executed at a cost of $5.8 million.
After several months of questions regarding Tobago’s plans for the festival, the Tobago Festivals Commission hosted a Press Briefing on Friday on the issue.
On Wednesday, the Tobago Festivals Commission released a Carnival calendar of events.
Tobago will see events starting from February 20th and ending on March 4th.
During Friday’s Briefing, Assistant Secretary Niall George said the calendar was developed after extensive consultations.
“It was about us meeting with the stakeholders and presenting this and consultations started very early in December and I would have noticed some flack about some of the dates on the calendars and some things that were omitted and I am just saying to the public out there – in order for us to plan we have to know what we are planning around.”
However, Mr. George noted late submissions from Carnival stakeholders contributed to delayed planning.
“We sent out Requests for Proposals, in some instances none were submitted by deadlines and persons would have started complaining after the deadlines would have closed and this wasn’t happening in their areas, or that wasn’t happening in their areas, and we are saying to stakeholders going forward that we cannot continue in that vein.”
Mas band registration is open until Monday, February 17th, and President of the Tobago Band Leaders Association Dianne McCrimmon said band leaders have been showing interest.
“For the Juniors, we have five large, eight medium, and seven small. We haven’t gotten any registration yet for groups. We have six seniors so far, five night mas and twelve traditional. We have seven J’ouvert bands so far.”
This year, the Windward Afro Queen Show and Calypso Competition returns and there will be J’ouvert in both Scarborough and Crown Point. There are, however, some changes for the Junior Parade of the Bands.
“The Kiddies Parade of Bands that would have normally been in Roxborough is now on Saturday in Scarborough and the Sunday will witness the Junior Parade of Bands and that’s the judging of bands because the judging of Individual Kings and Queens of the Bands will occur actually on Thursday the 27th, and this especially good for us, for our tourism so that we take to the streets of Scarborough.”
The calendar of events is shared on the TFCL’s platform.
TTT News
