PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – There will be several changes to the format of 2013 Carnival as Trinidad’s Government looks to get more for its money said Arts and Multiculturalism Minister, Lincoln Douglas during the launch at the National Academy for the Performing Arts.
“We might increase the prize monies but it will come with the responsibility of being an ambassador for T&T and representing this country through the year.”
Carnival 2013 will be held on February 11 and 12 and the possible increase in prize money and the ambassadorship for winners were not the only changes announced at the launch.
National Carnival Commission chairperson, Allison Demas announced that the Dimanche Gras show, usually held on Carnival Sunday, had been dismantled, with the finals of the Calypso Monarch taking place on Carnival Thursday and the King and Queen Carnival Show taking place on the Friday before Carnival, dubbed “Big Friday”.
Demas could not say of what the new version of the Dimanche Gras show would consist but noted that a tender request had gone out for people interested in producing the show.
It was also announced that the semi-final of the Panorama steelband competition would be held over two days and Pan Trinbago will use the finals of the event to celebrate 50 years of the Panorama competition; Pan Trinbago will hold a steelband competition, called “Groovy Soca-Monday Nite”, on Carnival Monday in four regions at Ariapita Avenue (North); Coffee Street, San Fernando (South/Central); and Arima (East)/
Changes to the parade route were also announced but Demas could not say exactly what these changes would be but she did say those changes would include an expanded route, reduction of the number of vehicles that could accompany the bands and time limits to performances on stage.
