Gibson says Carnival 2024 will be youth-driven as the organisers will involve more young people in the execution of the event. The organisers, including representatives from the CDF, Tourism Authority and Tourism Minister, held the media launch for next year’s carnival, which promises to be “bigger and better”.
“An integral part of the success lies in the enthusiastic participation of our youth. So for 2024, we are going to be focusing a lot more on having our youth more involved in the carnival product. It is imperative to highlight that their role as the torch-bearers of our rich tradition is extremely important,” Gibson observed. She says the inclusion of youth in carnival celebrations will guarantee the survival of Saint Lucia’s culture.
The CPMC will be working alongside the CDF to highlight the importance of promoting and marketing the island’s culture. “Their inclusion ensures that our carnival roots remain deep and the culture stays vibrant for generations to come…For 2024, we…will be working with the Cultural Development Foundation to ensure we have more activities for youth participation in Carnival to get them to appreciate and also protect our culture.”
Executive Director of the CDF, Raymona Henry-Wynne, says the cultural aspect of national activities needs to be taken seriously. She says there must be a balance between economic development and cultural protection. “For us, we understand that there is the economic side, but there is the cultural component. For the CDF, the only way you can foster the cultural component is through development. You heard about the junior panorama, and that’s just some of the things that we will do during the upcoming carnival season.”
Henry-Wynne also says the only way for the culture to survive is through the inclusion of the youth. She noted “For us, it’s for tapping into the youth of the nation - you have the junior calypsonians, junior carnivals, junior band leaders. These are the persons we can work with to ensure our cultural heritage remains strong.”
The panelists promise a reimagined carnival experience in the years to come. This year’s carnival boasted the highest arrival numbers, making it one of the most successful carnivals to date.