All Inclusives by their nature are not inclusive at all. And something tells me in 2009 Carnival they will become even more exclusive. So why would someone pay $1,400 to go with their wife to a 6 hour party. Well there is the annual Carnival calling; an annual ritual of religious proportion. I think it’s also because people want to identify with their tribe. They seek out the comfort of their tribe especially in these turbulent times. Comfortable in the sense of knowing other people of like persuasion. Hence the popularity of the Fatima Fete and the Old Hilarians and all the other schools.
The UWI Fete, which I’m honored to chair, is one of the original All Inclusives. Now in its 19th year the fete serves as the main fund-raiser for the UWI Endowment Fund, a fund dedicated to assisting deserving students financially through bursuries. I guess it’s easy to rationalise paying for the ticket for a cause with such solid credentials. This year it will be held on Sunday 18 January at the same place the now President of the Republic Max Richards started it all, on the grounds of the Principal’s Office. (in those days I am told it was the Principal’s residence)
When I took over the chair of the fete a few year’s ago, the first thing my team did was a survey of persons who had attended the fete, to see how we could improve it. The one area they identified then (about 4 years ago) that we needed to address in a big way was our music. They told us that our music was not of the standard that it needed to be. After several attempts at fixing the music, we really only got it right last year when we put Machel Montano HD and his band, Destra and Atlantik and Roy Cape All Stars on the same stage. In 2009, we are sticking with that winning team and have added JMC Trevini to the UWI Fete’s cast. Machel had never been to the UWI Fete he told the crowd, and that in years gone by he would often be lying home in St Augustine hearing the fete and wishing he could be there. He had as good a time as his fans who could not stop dancing.
What else did people surveyed want? Two things. Good food and drink. Well Great Music and Good Food and Drink cost a lot to put together plus there is the cause. I know the schools need the money to help run the schools. And we need the money to keep the Endowment Fund going in perpetuity. In a real sense, we have to be exclusive to be able to be inclusive. That’s what the UWI fete is about, raising money from those who can afford to help those who can’t.
And Machel will not be lying at home on the 18th.
