With just about seven weeks to go before carnival, rumor has it that the Dominica Festival Commission is broke, it owes about $3 million, and the government is yet to give the Festival Commission its usual annual carnival subvention fund. These are just some serious problems facing the 2008 Real Mas, which might just turn into Real Bacchanal.
In addition to all the problems, the management of the festival commission are in limbo because the government is presently in the process of switching responsibility for Carnival to the Ministry of Community Development and Culture, which is now headed up by Loreen Bannis-Reborts.
But biggest problem facing the carnival organizes is the lack of funds to execute the grand carnival celebration which they’ve been advertising for the Reunion year. Beside the regular Queen Show and street parades, the DFC plans for the Real Mas 2008 includes a Bouyon Festival, Soca Monarch Competition, Carnival Warm-Ups, and an International Artists Night featuring Beres Harmond and Carimi. The estimated total budget for the festival is EC$ 1,201,379.
Bottom Line: Carnival just week’s away- street jump-up days are on the 4th and 5th February 2008 – the Dominica Festivals commission is broke, and the annual government subvention fund has not yet come in.
What’s going to happen when the thousands of Dominicans who’re planning on returning home to celebrate the Reunion? Why is it always last minute for us here in Dominica? We know about the Reunion for years, but still with just over a few weeks before carnival things are not yet in place. Let’s hear opinion in the comments.
