By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts-Nevis (Friday 10th July 2020) — New Carnival Chairperson Shannon Hawley is entertaining the idea of virtual and otherwise cheerfulness for Sugar Mas 2020 as the world copes with COVID-19. In an interview on ZIZ TV aired on Saturday 4th July, Hawley said “there is hope” regarding the possibility of hosting Sugar Mas 49.
“The discussions were fruitful and there is hope. Of course in this time of the pandemic, it would not be business as usual so we now have to come up with creative ways, innovative ways of maybe not a full scale carnival per se — but we have to come up with innovative ways in which we can hopefully host a carnival; make it just as enjoyable and exciting as it has been in past years but of course taking into consideration the restrictions as it relates to COVID.”
Hawley addressed the concerns of those wondering about carnival’s essence: “It’s about our mental health and we’re yearning for the recreation. We missed Music Festival… We have six months to go to carnival. We don’t know where the six months will lead us, however, we have to make the necessary arrangements whether it’s going to be virtual, whether it’s gonna be a carnival small scale, large scale. However it is, we have to take the nation’s health first and foremost.”