tidings
Stefan Nikola
Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore has expressed concern over the marketing strategy for Tobago’s inaugural carnival. Two months before the Oct. 28-30 festival begins, Ramsey-Moore said time is running out for the Tobago House of Assembly and the Tobago Carnival committee to get it right.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Ramsey-Moore criticized a decision to send a ten-member Tobago delegation to Grenada to promote the carnival, given that no schedule of events and no budget have been revealed. She said that the promotion of the carnival in the country is sadly lacking.
Assistant Tourism Secretary Meghan Morrison left Tobago last week with soca artists and tourism officials to rally support for the carnival as the Spice Island prepares its own celebrations.
On Friday, Morrison met with Grenada’s Permanent Secretary responsible for Youth, Sports and Culture, Norman Gilbert, and discussions were held on further partnerships, knowledge sharing and transfers to develop the cultural products of both islands.
In a Facebook post, Ramsey-Moore said: “When you think you know and you really don’t! That’s the vibe I’m getting with the Tobago backival, Carnival or whatever they have in October. Big step up to Grenada and nothing ah court. T&T have more people than G(renada). Dance ah court before you dance abroad.”
Asked about her post on Sunday, Ramsey-Moore said: “I’m not against marketing and promoting to the world any event in Tobago, but I think as stakeholders (we’re supposed to) be up to date with what’s happening. Where’s the calendar of events?”
She said that THA is not using the resources available to it and that there is little buy-in from local stakeholders.
“What’s wrong with having your own NCC (National Carnival Commission) helping with marketing in Trinidad…
“I’m confused. You’re out there promoting Tobago Carnival and not marketing TT. You haven’t marketed in your own country. TT has more people than Grenada. Trinidad is the mecca of carnival. So if you want to sell a carnival, where is the first place you go?”
She believes that time is running out.
“This is not frivolous. This is serious business. I want to ensure that Tobago’s carnivals are one of the best in the world. We need to start selling for us (TT) to start and finish carnival.”
NCC chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters agreed with Ramsey-Moore that the carnival is not being promoted enough locally.
“That’s the truth,” he said.
Peters said the NCC held cordial preliminary discussions with the THA when the carnival was announced, but has not been consulted since. He said the NCC was not aware of the purpose of the trip to Grenada.
“After they set up a committee, they said they don’t want the Tobago carnival to look like the Trinidad carnival. What they mean is they don’t want the Tobago carnival to look like the Trinidad and Tobago carnival because it’s one country.
“Every country wants a Trinidad and Tobago-style carnival because it’s so successful, but they don’t want it – I think they want it to look like the Grenada carnival.”
PNM Tobago Council leader Ancil Dennis, who shared Ramsey-Moore’s post on Facebook, said he was “disappointed with the apparent lack of organization and planning” so far.
“I find it difficult to understand the reason why THA is in this position, because the consultations and talks for Tobago to have its own carnival have started since the beginning of 2021, under the previous PNM administration when I was the Chief Secretary.
“I find it difficult why two months before this event there is no adequate information to allow stakeholders and target audiences to plan and make arrangements to support this carnival. I hope they are right that Tobago has a successful carnival. It’s beyond politics. It’s in the best interest of Tobago.”
Ramsey-Moore said the last information she had was that she had THA approval for the pan events. She said the chairman of Tobago’s Pan Trinbago region is expected to meet with the Tourism Division on Monday to discuss the next step.
“I’m awaiting the results of that meeting,” Ramsey-Moore said.
She added that the decision not to host steel, calypso, soca and other competitions is expected to remain.
“THA has made a decision not to have competition and we will stick to that, but we know what drives competition within the community with pride and stuff.”
Efforts to reach Tourism, Culture and Antiquities Secretary Tashia Burris were unsuccessful after she did not respond to a phone call and WhatsApp message. Morrison, in a WhatsApp reply, declined to comment when asked to address Ramsey-Moore’s statement.
