tidings
Yvonne Webb
TOBAGO West MP and Acting Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Shamfa Cudjoe has congratulated Tobago-based Uptown Fascinators for winning the National Panorama Small Conventional Bands 2023 competition.
She also congratulated Pan Trinbago and its chairman, Beverley Ramsey-Moore, for executing the competition in grand style from preliminaries to finals.
She said this effort inspires enthusiasm for the middle and large group competitions.
In a statement, Cudjoe, who is also the Sports Minister, said it was a great display of excellence from the small conventional groups.
This win for the Uptown Fascinators, who also won the title in 2020, “shows the resilience of the group throughout the disruption caused by the Covid19 pandemic,” she said.
“The skill, harmony and strategy employed by the Uptown Fascinators in showcasing the national instrument undoubtedly inspires immense cultural pride among nationals at home and abroad.”
She said the excellence displayed in last Friday’s finals held at the Grand Stand of Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, is an inspiring start to the competitive aspect of the TT carnival.
“The return of the carnival highlights the festival’s sustainability, which resonates with the history surrounding carnival culture and the Steel Belt.”
She said the commitment to the group races shows the collective determination to achieve excellence in the TT.
She said the state remains an ardent supporter of the steel belt movement because of its role in stimulating cultural life and cultural industries in TT.
“The Government continues to invest in the innovation, creativity and determination of TT people at all levels and scales.”
As TT’s creative capacity is the most valuable resource in the ongoing efforts to stimulate recovery and progress, she said the Ministry of Tourism in line with its mandate to professionalize the arts sector, continues to support carnival actors in the production and the development of different species. elements of the festival in terms of the benefit and prosperity of the national community.
“The skill and technical prowess of the production is on par with its festival contemporaries in the international market.”
She observed that the integration of digital tools ensured the promotion of “A Taste of Carnival” in 2022 in the international market and this year, the quality and distribution of TT’s carnival product to virtual audiences has improved.
“There are increased opportunities for videographers, sound engineers, social media influencers, marketers, event coordinators and panelists to earn income from live and virtual consumers.
“The 2023 Carnival reboot is off to an epic start. The festival activities are coming full circle from the interruptions caused by the Covid19 pandemic.”
For 2023, the Cabinet has agreed to pay $5 million in grants to unsponsored groups and remittances to each steel bowl player.
Carnival 2023 has been dubbed the Mother of all Carnivals and Cudjoe said the ministry will continue to support stakeholders to ensure maximum benefits for all the people of TT.
