OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles has questioned the Government’s alleged move to dissolve the National Carnival Commission (NCC) and whether the relevant stakeholders were consulted.
Beckles also accused the Government of being a late payer across the board, asking whether all performers engaged for Carnival 2026 have received their dues. The People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader was speaking yesterday at a news conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Port of Spain. Beckles said information reaching the Opposition was that the Cabinet had agreed to dissolve the NCC and establish a ‘National Festivals Commissions’ act to encompass related matters.
Beckles recalled statements by Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin that consultations were ongoing, with regard to national festivals.
The Arima MP went on to ask Benjamin, ‘Who did you consult?’- in order to take the decision to dissolve the NCC.
Beckles referred to previous remarks by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the public was turned off by the content of most performers in the calypso tents. She said there were those who looked forward to being able to go to the tents, as opposed to paying large sums to attend some Carnival fetes.
She said the Government had gone on to create Flava Village in 2026 (at the Queen’s Park Savannah), but questioned whether all performers have been paid. Beckles said NCC chairman Peter Kanhai recently stated that all outstanding debts to artistes and others will be paid. Asking ‘when’, she said the Government has been consistently ‘paying everybody late’, including public servants.
Attempts to contact Kanhai and Benjamin yesterday were unsuccessful.
