De Dilva: NCC used as whipping horse

According to Chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC), Kenny De Silva, the organisation is usually used as a “whipping horse” by the public if anything goes wrong at Carnival time, and as history has demonstrated in the past, things will go wrong even though there are well laid plans. De Silva made the statement yesterday as he addressed participants at the one-day seminar titled “Reflections On Carnival 2004” at the Normandie Hotel, which was hosted by The Institute for the Study of Carnival (ISC).

While the NCC is the principal facilitator of hosting any Carnival events, De Silva said it takes money to host these shows, but it was public opinion that everything should be free at Carnival time, and that it was solely government’s responsibility to foot the bills. However, with the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) having paid over  $1 million for the broadcast rights this year, De Silva said the money was subsequently divided into three and presented to — Pan Trinbago, TUCO, and representatives of Carnival to assist in the hosting of this year’s show. Lamenting the fact that while Carnival is a major revenue-earner for lots of people including the hotel industry, and the food and drink industry, De Silva sadly said no major contribution has been made by hotels to the coffers of Carnival.

Added to that, he said financial contributions to Carnival from beverage companies “were very small.” Admitting that there has been tremendous fall-off support for the Dimanche Gras show, he revealed this year’s show had been “better, but shorter,” a claim which was supported by this year’s gate receipts, which have been better than in the last three years. Assuring that the NCC would be reviewing the distribution of prize monies for different events, De Silva concluded it was the job of the NCC to make money, but to facilitate Carnival.