$45 million to run Greatest Show on Earth

The country’s runaway crime, including the dustbin bombs, didn’t appear to be on the minds of the revellers.

However, chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC), Kenny De Silva, says Carnival 2006 will face serious challenges if proper security measures to deal with crime are not put in place. But he was optimistic that the Carnival will come off.

Speaking to Newsday prior to the official launch of Carnival 2006 at the Queen’s Park Savannah, De Silva said, "The necessary ministries will have to ensure to the fullest extent, that things are put in place long before Carnival. If that is not done, there will be serious challenges.

"But we have to face these challenges, we can’t put our hands in our pockets and walk away. I am confident that Carnival will come off. I don’t think there will be a shutdown (because of crime)."

De Silva added that people had to place confidence in the security forces, who in turn had to inspire confidence by their actions. He believes there are strategies in place to deal with crime, but the "results have to be seen between now and Carnival" to put people’s minds at ease.

He said at the Savannah, one of the main venues for Carnival activities, there will be additional security for shows, which will be enhanced by personnel from the protective services.

De Silva said the NCC will hold its normal meeting with representatives of the Ministry of National Security to discuss its plans for Carnival.

The budget for Carnival 2006 is $45 million, inclusive of monies for infrastructure and prizes. The amount is ten percent more than was allocated this year.

The fact that several Carnival bands have been sold out, has also provided optimism for De Silva about the success of next year’s event. He said he was expecting the event to be "very big based on NCC’s network of information and the number of sold out bands, and the number of hits on the web."

De Silva said they were even expecting more visitors and returning nationals.

The first major Savannah event is the Panorama preliminaries on February 11, 2006. Carnival will be on February 27 and 28, 2006.

Yesterday’s launch started with a parade of what was expected to be 32 "sections" comprising Carnival characters, steel bands and tassa drummers. But when the parade left the Brian Lara Promenade at 4 pm, there were only a handful of "sections" — brightly coloured fancy Indians, gorillas, burroquites and blue devils, accompanied by the pulsating sounds of the tamboo bamboo and a couple steelbands.

En route to the Savannah, via Abercromy, Park and Charlotte Streets, groups of spectators were entertained. Booths on display at the Savannah awaited the influx of visitors which began just after 6 pm for the cultural show.