President of the Tobago October Carnival Association Dexter Sandy remains hopeful additional and direct flights on the airbridge can be realised this October, as the 4th edition of the Tobago October Carnival takes flight.
00:00We do have a lot of persons showing interest from Trinidad as well as international arrivals and one thing that they're asking, why not put Tobago as a first stop, right, as a stop on those direct flights that you have during the week of Carnival.
00:17It doesn't take an additional crew or an additional aircraft. It just means making one stop first here in Tobago rather than carrying the load to Port of Spain and then having the challenge of bringing them back to Tobago.
00:31So, you know, we've listened to that sort of advice and that's one of the calls that we're asking for Caribbean Airlines to kind of meet us on the half, meet the island on the half.
00:40President of the Tobago October Carnival Association, Dexter Sandy, as he spoke with TV6 News.
00:47Mr. Sandy said last year, 23 bands registered for contemporary mass and over 32 bands for juve.
00:55He says with these numbers, sustained public support remains key.
01:01We're really looking for a real spectacle this year. I must say that the carnival has naturally grown over the past three years.
01:10This year, we have set a target of just about 25 to 30 percent increase in terms of participation for the bands, but more or less, we're looking for more than that.
01:20Tobago has really gotten the opportunity to be the last calendar and the last carnival, sorry, in the calendar year.
01:28And it puts us in a position to take advantage of all that has happened throughout the entire year.
01:35Mr. Sandy said a major new edition in 2025 will be the development of a central performance stage in Scarborough,
01:44which will serve as the heart of the carnival action from October 24th to 26th.
01:50This venue will provide a seating for thousands of spectators, offering prime views of performances, costume showcases and parade action.
02:00It will also host a curated marketplace for local food, beverages and artisan crafts, giving visitors a true taste of Tobago's rich cultural tapestry.
02:13You would have seen so far three bands, mass bands would have launched on social media.
02:19We actually have this week Jade Monkey Mass. They are doing their virtual launch.
02:23In the month of July, you're going to see bands like Iconic Mass, Fogging Angels and others would be coming forward with their presentations.
02:32And we have taken it upon ourselves to push our launches, one, and really put energy and resources behind our marketing efforts.
02:41Sandy said the priority is to support the growth of existing bands by encouraging new masqueraders
02:48to register with those established in 2023 or 2024, as the 2024, the association welcomed 32 juve bands, six nightmares, and 23 contemporary bands.
03:02Strong evidence of a thriving, creative community that deserves the space and resources to grow.
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