Will new Carnival body result in a better Looshan Carnival?

On Thursday January 16, a statement from the Office of the Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries about Carnival 2014, revealed that a new carnival management body had been formed here.

According to the statement: “Following the announcement by minister Lorne Theophilus on November 13th, 2013 that Carnival 2014 would be planned and managed by the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), a series of discussions have been held to put in place the planning and production team for the festival and to begin the engagement with the stakeholders, service providers and sponsors.

“Minister Theophilus can now announce the creation of the Carnival Planning and Management Agency (CPMA), a body established under section 4 (3) of the Cultural Development Foundation Act, Cap. 17.04, charged with the mandate of planning and producing a successful carnival 2014.”

According to the ministry, the minister has since met with Petrus Compton, chair of the CDF and Lyndon Arnold, Chair of the CPMA, on Wednesday 8th January to discuss the activities of the Agency and the approach to the organization of carnival events.

Compton, the statement says, informed the Minister that the CPMA held its first meeting on Saturday 4th January 2014, and was preparing the ground work for meeting with stakeholders, service providers, and sponsors.

“The CPMA expects to be in a position to launch a comprehensive calendar of carnival activities shortly, following its rounds of meetings, to support early progress in the marketing of the festival,” the statement goes on to point out.

Further, following a meeting between the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) and the CDF, a Memorandum of Understanding between the two bodies on collaboration in support of carnival is expected to be signed in the coming days.

There was no mention in this week’s communiqué as to how the persons making up the CPMA were chosen. The CPMA comprises Lyndon Arnold (Chair), Vaughn Charles (Deputy Chair), Daune Charlery-John, Celeste Charlemagne, Glen Louis, Anthia Octave, and Imran Emmanuel. The body has agreed to appoint a Press Relations Officer to ensure a cordial and professional relationship with the media, the STAR has learnt.

Meetings between the CPMA and carnival stakeholders are expected to commence as early as next week.