The doubting is over. The Anguilla Government, though hard-pressed for public funds, is committed to finding the money to finance the 2016 Summer Festival which continues to woo many tourists and returning Anguillians to the island.
Confirmation that the festival is on, has come from the Minister of Social Development, Mr. Evans McNeil Rogers, and the Chairman of the Anguilla Summer Festival, Mr. John Benjamin. They spoke on Friday, June 10, at the lunch of the festival in the courtyard of the Caribbean Commercial Centre under the theme: Showcasing Our Culture through boat-racing, feting and spreeing.
“Just imagine what Anguilla would be like in August without a carnival – and that is something that we do not want,” the Minister stated. “So we have to find the money to pay some of the individuals whom we owe since last year’s carnival… As a Government, our responsibility at this point, is to subsidise carnival. We can never have enough money to cover the cost and we depend on the individuals who organise the carnival – the chairman, his team of various subcommittees – who donate a lot of time to the planning of the Summer Festival.”
Mr. Rogers made the point that the festival was for the people of Anguilla, visitors, and those Anguillians specifically returning home for that occasion. “The Government is committed to finding the money for carnival for that ripple effect,” the Minister said. He also spoke about planned legislation which Government would soon be taking to the Anguilla House of Assembly for the setting up of a foundation to have responsibility for the funding of the summer festival. He praised the chairman and the committee members for their difficult work without compensation. “It is truly an honour to have them working to put on Anguilla’s carnival year after year regardless of the limitations we know they experience,” he added.
His remarks were preceded by those of Mr. John Benjamin in his capacity as Chairman of the Anguilla Summer Festival. “At one point, I wasn’t sure we were going to have a carnival this year,” Mr. Benjamin said. “I indicated this to the Minister, but he said whether we have money or not, we will be having carnival this year and he did his best to have some funds.”
The Summer Festival Chairman continued: “Just this afternoon I spent nearly two or three hours with the Ministry going through the plans for next year. I am sure it is going to be more difficult, and we will have to hire more people, so will be putting the foundation together to get money from overseas. We are also planning to privatise some of the events.”
Mr. Benjamin was grateful that there were now two persons serving in Government who could assist with the festival. One is the Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Cardigan Connor, and the other is Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Morrison, both of whom understand carnival. According to Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Morrison will be working with the Government and the Summer Festival Committee for the promotion and protection of carnival.
Mr. Benjamin added: “The Commissioner has raised many issues in terms of Sandy Ground where so many people travel [for the Caribbean Beach Party]. What happens there, for example, if something goes wrong – like a tsunami – how do you move people, and where do you move them to? We are going to have a central command with the Commissioner of Police in charge. We will be going through such matters in the next six weeks.”
The launch of the 2016 Anguilla Summer Festival was moderated by Ms. Lisa Rey, a well-known public relations personality.
The official programme is printed below.
