BET commissioned to film TT’s Carnival

The Ministry of Tourism has commissioned, at a cost of US $50,000,  BET (Black Entertainment Television) Cable Channel to produce a one-hour documentary on Carnival which would be seen by “89 million” viewers in the United States, Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee announced yesterday.

He also disclosed, according to Central Statistical Office figures, some 46,000 tourists are expected to visit Trinidad and Tobago between February 6 and 24, 39,000 more than in 2003. And Community Development Minister Joan Yuille-Williams revealed that 26 celebrities are coming to Trinidad and Tobago for the gala performance of Carnival Messiah, which is expected to go to Broadway.

Noting that Government was currently settling the rights for Messiah. “If we make it to Broadway, Queen’s Hall would get $200,000 a week under the terms of the contract,” she said. She added that Government was attempting to promote Trinidad and Tobago as a venue of the filming industry. Both Ministers were speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall yesterday. Yuille-Williams stated that all the problems associated with last year’s Carnival, particularly the problem of judging, had been settled and a better monitoring system had been put in place at all judging points.

She announced that Jouvert would officially start at 5 am. She promised patrons that they would get good  entertainment at the  Dimanche Gras show which is titled “River of Rhythms.” Noting that there was a calm and peace during this Carnival season, Yuille-Williams said the Ministry was comfortable with what the National Security Ministry had done. Chin Lee stated that there was an increase in regional and international media writing articles on Carnival. Time Magazine, Vibe Magazine, Travel Weekly, BBC, Miami Herald, Sunday Telegraph are among the media which would be featuring Carnival.

He said the BET documentary, which would be shown several times during the course of the year, would be viewed by the feature authorities to ensure that it covers “the true nature of Carnival”.
Chin Lee stated that last year there was a record number of visitors — 407,000. He said based on the increase in arrivals thus far, the Ministry anticipated that it would close this year at an even higher figure — over 500,000 visitors.