Dominica needs more promotion for carnival
By Michael D. • Feb 7th, 2008 • Category: EntertainmentChief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence believes more publicity and promotion for Dominica’s carnival is required to have the event registered on the world calendar.
Revelers take to the streets on Monday and Tuesday for the two days of jump up in Dominica’s 2008 carnival, the Real Mas.
Mr. Lawrence says Dominica has been unable to attract large crowds to its carnival, the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
“I would probably invest a lot more in publicity and promotion, not just in Dominica but in the region and internationally. I think Dominica is weakest in terms of promotion in North America and Europe,” he said.
Lawrence says “if people don’t know about the carnival they will not come.” He wants Dominica’s carnival to become known internationally like that of Trinidad and Tobago and Rio.
“We need to become world known as well but we need to invest as a country in more publicity and promotion,” Lawrence said.
And executive Director of the Dominica Festivals Commission (DFC), Val Cuffy agrees that “a huge budget” is needed to take Dominica’s carnival forward.
“That huge budget can help us to take the message to people throughout the year,” Cuffy said.
The DFC executive director also wants investment in a facility to host festival activities throughout the year.
“We are doing festivals carnivals and events with less money than most other islands and we are being rated as successful so when we do have the required funds you can imagine that the world would be our stage,” he said.
The carnival activities culminate here Tuesday with the grand street parade and jump up. During the carnival celebrations Dennison Dice Joseph won the Calypso crown for the fourth time.
The daughter of Dominica’s Agriculture Minister, Marah Walter won the Carnival Queen Show and lead singer of the Swinging Stars Band Chester Letang won the Soca Monarch Competition.
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