BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Thursday 16th November 2023)-Minister of Culture with responsibility for Carnival Samal Duggins is encouraging everyone to do their part to enhance the Sugar Mas (St.Kitts-Nevis National Carnival) product because it is about more than just fun, frolic and entertainment.
He made the call while delivering remarks at a media update conference held on Wednesday 15th November 2023 at the Carnival Secretariat Extension located downstairs the EC Daniel Building on Cayon Street in Basseterre.
“It is important for us as a society to recognise that it isn’t just about fun [and] frolic and entertainment. It’s about economic boost. It is an advancement for our country, and so if we were to tally, we’d recognize that directly there were about 1000 direct jobs provided from just National Carnival alone and we could on and multiple how many indirectly that were created as well, and so National Carnival we would have seen last year would have captured everybody.”
Duggins stated that the last year’s objective was to ensure that Sugar Mas stands out as a beacon of carnivals within the region.
“We want Sugar Mas to be that carnival that people from all over the world decide ‘I must be there’ and I think we’re getting there.That was last year. This year we’re now days away from Sugar Mas and we have to have a mandate, and that mandate for this year is: To make sure that we have continued growth for our carnival product and by extension our national product because St.Kitts and Nevis in its almost twenty years of being a tourist destination –If we want to call it that-is still growing and it is activities like Sugar Mas which helps to promote and develop that product.”
The Carnival Minister added: “But it is a part that we all must play; not just inviting our families and friends back home but ‘What are we doing to market the destination and the brand globally?’ What role are we playing to ensure that someone in Taiwan, someone in Chile, someone in Alaska decides that the best place to spend Christmas season and Carnival is in sweet ‘Sugar City’ St.Kitts? What are we doing? And for me as Minister, I’m asking each and every one of you to contemplate on that question: ‘What am I doing to market my destination, my country, my Sugar Mas to the world?’.”
He went on to say: “I’m quite sure that on reflection and contemplation on that question, our ingenuity and our talent would emerge where we would see wonderful ideas coming out.And while we had one of the biggest j’ouverts last year, we plan to double it this year with your help, while we had the biggest grand parade last year , we plan for it to be much bigger this year with your help.”
“And I believe that we have the people here to do it” Duggins noted while applauding the Carnival Chairperson Shannon Hawley who “assembled a world class team.”
According to the Carnival Minister “… this year, I’m telling you that Carnival is poised to be a spectacle; let’s call it that!”
Front Page Image: Minister of Culture with responsibility for Carnival Samal Duggins while delivering remarks at media update conference held on Wednesday 15th November 2023 at the Carnival Secretariat Extension located downstairs the EC Daniel Building on Cayon Street in Basseterre. (Spokesman Screenshot via Facebook/St.Kitts&Nevis