St. George’s, Grenada, June 24th 2011: As Grenada prepares for one of its biggest festival, Carnival; the New National Party is concerned that a bill which was recently passed in the Upper House of Parliament can have far reaching implications. This bill which was piloted by the Hon.Tillman Thomas in the Lower House, seeks to provide for the establishment of the Spicemas Corporation, a Corporation responsible to organize, manage and to govern Carnival activities in Grenada. 

According to the Bill, the Corporation will comprise persons from various sectors appointed by the Minister for Culture.

While the New National Party welcomes any initiative to enhance the carnival product, the party has objection with some sections.  
 
The NNP believes that the Minister deciding on the composition and the membership of the Board is giving too much power to the Minister but also leaves the door wide open for political interference and political manipulation.

The NNP believes the Board must comprise representatives from the private sector working with the various stakeholders of Carnival.

The Bill also specifies that one of the representatives on the Board will be from the Calypso Fraternity.  However, since there are two existing Associations in Grenada, the Opposition questions how one person will be selected without creating problems. 
 
While the Opposition does not have any issue with the approval of the material contents of Calypsonians, in order to ensure compliance with the laws of the State, there is major concern that the Government’s intention may be to muzzle calypsonians and prevent the airing of songs which exposes the wrong doing and the poor performance of the Tillman Thomas led administration. 
 
The Bill specifies that a person shall not hold a carnival festival or activity in an area declared to be the location for a carnival festival activity operated by the Corporation, unless the person obtains a license from the Board to do so. 

The NNP is concerned that this give too much powers to the Board. Additionally, the Bill specifies that the areas for carnival would be designated after the launching of the carnival celebration. 

This can negatively affect small vendors and those seeking to make an honest living as well as those who may be used to using those designated areas for vending. 

The NNP therefore recommends the designation of permanent areas for carnival activities; so that individuals can know long before alternative areas they may wish to use.

 Furthermore, the NNP is concerned that the Bill requires a person desirous of obtaining a license from the Board to hold a carnival festival, shall make an application in writing to the Board after the date of the official launching of Carnival.

Since Carnival is sometimes launched just two months before major Carnival celebrations, serious consideration must be given to this as promoters and others involved in planning such activities may want to do so long before the launch of Carnival.  
 
The New National Party is therefore disappointed that the NDC administration used its majority in Parliament to pass such a Bill without addressing the many concerns raised by the Opposition and other stakeholders.

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