Can T&T do without Carnival? Some people might answer “hell yes”. They see it as providing the space for lewdness and drunkenness and a loss of productivity. Others would say “are you mad?” My guess though is that even in a secret ballot far more people would choose to keep it than do without it. And what is it about Carnival that makes it so special to so many? Here’s my 11 top reasons why we can’t do without Carnival:
- Steelband music’s unique ability to touch the soul (no matter the size or brand of band)
- Jouvert’s liberating beauty
- The riveting energy of the Fete
- Our beautiful women are at their most radiant (and they now own the Carnival)
- Machel’s power to connect (and Rudder, Sparrow, Rose and Kitchener before him)
- Jit, Holman, Boogsie, Pelham, Robbie (and Bradley before them)
- Stephen Derek’s spectacular creations (and Minshall, Bailey and Saldenah before him)
- Our “Corn Soup” sector needs it
- Big Business needs it (and with the multiplier effect it helps stimulate the economy)
- It’s probably the best example of who we are (with all our warts and carbuncles)
- We won’t always have oil.
