The Trinidad and Tobago government is handing back Carnival to the people by returning the annual festivities to the Queen's Park Savannah.Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Winston Peters told reporters Wednesday the government will provide the necessary resources to make sure Carnival is “given back to the people”.
Peters also announced that the government will scrap the previous administration's plans for a National Carnival Centre for the Savannah.
Peters made the announcement at a function to hand over more than $1 Million to the Little Carib Theatre to help with the restoration of the historic theatre in Port-of-Spain.
Speaking about Carnival the minister said the plan is to rebuild the main stage and get the bands back. One of the best-known bandleaders is excited about the change. Brian MacFarlane told the Newsday newspaper he is "very enthused and excited about it".
He added, "I think everyone who is a part of carnival wants to be where they could be seen by international media,” he said. He said he has offered the government to work free of charge to design a route which would allow the free flow of mas bands from Charlotte Street to the stage at the Savannah.
President of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA), Owen Hinds, is also happy about the development.
“When we left the Savannah three years ago, we were hoping to go back. As far as we are concerned we will welcome that move and masqueraders will be happy. The fact that we have a stage to parade on for Carnival makes us different to everyone else in the world,” he said.
The Manning administration banned Carnival from the Savannah after the 2006 Parade of the bands and demolished the Grand Stand in preparation for the construction of a National Carnival Centre.
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