VIDEO: PM says carnival weekend should be reserved for Carnival’s strongest and best-attended events

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the final Thursday, Friday and Saturday before J’ouvert should be reserved for Carnival’s strongest and best-attended events, raising the possibility that the Calypso Monarch competition could lose its traditional Friday-night slot.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Browne questioned whether Calypso continues to attract enough patrons to justify being staged on one of Carnival’s peak nights.

“I don’t think that Calypso can justify Carnival Friday anymore,” Browne said.

He initially suggested that the competition could be moved to Wednesday or Thursday, with Thursday emerging as one possible alternative.

Browne later floated another option that would place Party Monarch on Saturday night and move the Calypso final to Sunday, immediately before J’ouvert.

The Sunday proposal was challenged during the discussion because of concerns that staging a major competition hours before J’ouvert could further weaken attendance.

Browne, however, said Calypso had little to lose, citing reports that only about 80 paying patrons attended the previous year’s event. He suggested a Sunday show could potentially attract people who want to remain out until J’ouvert begins early Monday.

The prime minister stressed that no final decision had been made and invited the public to offer suggestions on the Carnival calendar.

His central argument was that the final three nights before J’ouvert must feature events capable of attracting large crowds and delivering a strong conclusion to the festival.

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