T&T Carnival does not need additional regulation
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival does not need additional regulation, particularly when calls for “cleaning up” the festival are rooted in moral frameworks that don’t reflect Carnival’s full cultural history. Much of the criticism aimed at sexuality in Carnival tends to come from a Judeo-Christian vantage point, rather than from the older African contexts that shaped many of the festival’s meanings and practices.
To say Carnival should not be regulated is not to argue for chaos or lawlessness. It is not a “no limits” event where anything goes. The point is that when people speak about regulation, they often mean curtailing behaviour deemed “disrespectful” and sanitising public expression; especially sexual expression. That narrow focus can end up policing culture rather than addressing genuine public-safety concerns.
From an African-centred perspective, Carnival can be understood as connected to fertility ritual and harvest celebration, honouring abundance not only in agriculture but also in human life and reproduction. Within that framework, sensuality and sexuality are not automatically treated as immoral; they are seen as part of a wider story about vitality, continuity, and community. In that sense, ongoing debate about Carnival being “too sexual” may also signal a broader need for comprehensive sex education, so that public discussions about sexuality are informed rather than reactive.
At the same time, acknowledging sexuality as part of Carnival does not mean it should be treated as the whole of Carnival. The concern for many is not simply that sex exists in the festival, but that it is increasingly being centred as the exclusive narrative. Carnival includes sexuality, but it is not only about sexuality. Whether one views the festival through a Judeo-Christian lens or an Afrocentric lens, a more balanced telling is needed, one that reflects the music, art, spirituality, history, resistance, satire, and communal celebration that also define Carnival.
Similarly, claims that Carnival is being “commercialised” and has shifted away from tradition do not capture the complete picture. While modern presentations may place heavier emphasis on masquerade and marketable spectacle, it should not become an either/or argument between “traditional Carnival” and “modern Carnival.” A more useful approach is to recognise that both can coexist, with space for the merging of contemporary band culture and older elements such as characters, storytelling, and community-based expressions.
In the public discourse, some figures maintain that questions of morality in Carnival are not primarily for the state to manage. Diego Martin North/East MP Colm Imbert, for example, has argued that concerns about morality and perceived moral decline are better addressed by the church, rather than through formal regulation of the festival.
Sure let Archbishop Gordon decide as allegations , his church hides and protect Priests that are homosexual and mistreat kids in homes administered by his diocese. Such are investigated with the results hidden.
Sarge