Carnival 2000 on the Way

Contact: Dana Augustin

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 – Saint Lucia’s 50^th Carnival season, which this year runs from July 1 – 18, under the theme – "Celebrate – Participate" was launched by the National Carnival Development Corporation, on Saturday June 10.

At the opening ceremony, which took place at the Half Yellow Moon in Rodney Bay members of various participating entities, spoke about issues, which have over the years affected the growth and development of Carnival in Saint Lucia. These included the decision on the main venue for Carnival 2000, the structure and management of the NCDC and the overall staging of events for the Carnival season.

Minister for Community Development, Culture, Local Government and Cooperatives, the Honourable Damian Greaves believes that there is much to be desired in Saint Lucia’s Carnival activities. "We must not fail to realize that there is something developing uniquely Saint Lucian in our Carnival – beginning with our music and extending to our carnival bands and the kind of revelry that we are producing. I believe that we are still in the experimental stage," Greaves said.

Among noteworthy issues of this year’s Carnival celebrations is the fact that the Saint Lucia Tourist

Board will be working closely with the NCDC to market and promote this year’s event to other countries in an effort to increase tourist arrivals during the Carnival period "We feel that there is great potential in Carnival and we would like to work together to make this event a success,"

Deputy Director of Tourism Maria Fowell said.

Activities slated for the Carnival season include the Golden Jubilee Carnival Queen Show, Calypso competitions, Soca Monarch Competition, Panorama, King and Queen of the Bands Competition, pageants and the parade of the bands.

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