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Same old Carnival coverage from TTT

IMAGINE the national television station is transmitting what we like to call the “Greatest Show on Earth” and the “Mother of all Carnivals” to the wider world with the same old camera angles, poor audio and a complete lack of research on anything that would make people want to come to the country to experience. After 50-plus years of Carnival coverage, one would have thought those at TTT would have some new strategy to cover Carnival more professionally and excitingly, with proper production planning to achieve the desired result.

The Kings and Queens prelims was another disastrous attempt at covering a live show. Here again, there was no research, so information had to come via the stage announcers and was hard to hear.Some roving reporters were asking each person they interviewed the same question. I have to admit there were one or two guest commentators who knew about pan, but the main topic of conversation was about the sponsored shirts the presenters were wearing.

The director did not do a site visit before the show to notice his background for the stage was an empty North Stand. So here we had 30 or more costumes parading across a huge stage with an empty North Stand, and it would appear no one on the production team noticed. So much for crowd reaction.

Despite my best efforts, I was unable to discern how maintaining an accurate profit and loss ledger could restore the grandeur of Carnival. The word "again" implies that it has declined from its highest point and requires restoration. Perhaps the comment ought to read, "Enhance Carnival" after taxpayer money shows a trail of red ink. Last year 89 million.

Carnival is similar to Christmas in that it combines the old and the new. Each year, the identical and worn-out decorations adorn the tree, mirroring the drab and worn-out vendor displays that line the Savannah. Perhaps a few recently installed draperies were tangled with a few from two years ago that were forgotten. Each year, Tantie prepares the same dish and presents it in upscale merchandise. Although the family eagerly awaits a sample of her creation, their attention is fixed on what her sister has in store for them this year. It goes without saying that everyone will enjoy themselves until next year. In reality, it is not possible to charge family members for attending Christmas brunch. Some mothers will contribute if they can afford it, but the objective is for all to enjoy it, consume it in its entirety, grab seconds, and take some to go.

In its Declaration of Independence, America coined the phrase "pursuit of happiness" alongside "life" and "liberty" many years ago. Such is the significance of contentment. Regrettably, economists and bean counters, that is precisely the purpose of Carnival: to bring joy to others.

You certainly cannot quantify that, correct?

Just a friend of Carnival...


Women pay up to $16,000 to get ready for mas on Monday, Tuesday
Total expenditure for the men was approximately $8,000, which is half of what the women spent for Carnival Monday and Tuesday.