A final tranche of artistes engaged by the Government for Carnival Flava Village 2026 will be paid by the end of this month, Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin said yesterday.
Benjamin was responding to questions in the Senate, where she reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring every performer who was engaged for the initiative gets their money.
Benjamin said over 500 artistes from various genres were engaged in contracts negotiated according to industry prices and the duration of their performances.
This included live bands which were hired at rates from $20,000 to $60,000.
Steelbands performed at rates from $12,000 to $60,000; while artistes in soca, calypso, chutney and rapso were engaged for fees ranging from $1,500 to $40,000.
Benjamin said musical groups, including tassa and rhythm sections, were engaged at rates from $4,000 to $$7,000; while solo steelpan players were contracted at $800 to $4,000.
According to Benjamin, Carnival characters were engaged as individuals—such as Dame Lorraines—at $700 per individual.
She said groups of characters such as moko jumbies and blue devils were hired at $5,000 per group.
Noting the conclusion of Flava Village on March 1, Benjamin said those performers engaged in January 2026 have been paid.
She said performance fees for February were being processed and were expected to have been completed by March 31.
Benjamin said 90% of performers have been paid and that “every performer will be paid”.
She was asked by former finance minister Vishnu Dhanpaul whether financing for the payment of performers was to be taken from the budgetary allocation or borrowed.
The question was not allowed by Senate President Wade Mark, who ruled the question does not arise.
