Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas has extended an open invitation to tourists to come and enjoy T&T Carnival in a safe environment.Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas has extended an open invitation to tourists to come and enjoy T&T Carnival in a safe environment. He also hoped that stakeholders would be able to generate revenue from this year’s Carnival and contribute to the economy. He was speaking after the launch of the National Carnival Commission’s (NCC) Arouca Carnival 2014 at the Emancipation Park, Bon Air West, Arouca, on Saturday. Douglas said: “I’m wishing that everyone has a good time. I’m hoping that people that invest in mas, calypso, Carnival and steelband have the opportunity to make some money out of the industry that is Carnival. “I want everybody to be peaceful. This would help the image and people to understand and enjoy T&T Carnival. We have a lot of visitors: I’m hosting a large contingent from Africa, India and China. They will all be here to enjoy our celebrations and hopefully they will see us having fun and not hurting each other but having a good time.”
He said Carnival was a great opportunity for tourists to come and have a good time and enjoy themselves without any fear or frustration. Douglas said Saturday’s launch was an opportunity for the community of Arouca and evirons from Tacarigua, Tunapuna, all the way to Arima, to have a great time of celebration in the East to bring a spirt of harmony and peace to the community. He said it was not about anything negative but about bringing people together and helping them. Douglas said the idea was to bring in a spirit of family and consciousness to Carnival. The launch included a parade of traditional Carnival characters through the streets, such as fancy sailors, fancy Indians, moko jumbies, jab jabs, dame lorraines and midnight robbers. The event also had a family-oriented theme with a play park and picnic event. After the formal part of the opening, there were live performances by soca artistes and calypsonians, including Iwer George, Patrice Roberts, Young J, Bunji Garlin, Olatunji and Mr Killa.