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  • 5 weeks ago
One week away from the 4th edition of Tobago's October Carnival comes word that some mas bands may have to return funds to masqueraders who purchased costumes as there are no flights for them to arrive on the island.

A similar issue is being had with some persons who provide accommodation. Elizabeth Williams has been following this issue and has this report.
Transcript
00:00We're just one week to go before the bans hit the road.
00:05We as band leaders have been receiving scores of calls on a daily basis
00:10from masqueraders who have made their deposits for costumes
00:14and they do not have any way of getting to Tobago.
00:18President of Tobago's October Carnival, Dexter Sandy,
00:22is calling on the authorities to do better.
00:25This is something that we need to fix.
00:27This carnival is the main product that comes out of the island
00:33that brings the greatest tourism impact on the island in any calendar year
00:38and it's something that we have to get it right.
00:40If it is we're looking at this being a sustainable carnival,
00:43we need to get this right.
00:45So I think the time has reached for us as Toka, the band leaders,
00:49to sit at the table with the Tobago House of Assembly
00:53as well as Caribbean Airlines.
00:55And let's work on a strategy in terms of the airlift.
00:58We have seen where the ferry has already increased to four per day
01:03from Wednesday right down to the weekend.
01:06And we are still, as it is right now, the standard 12 flights a day.
01:10That is not good enough.
01:11Secretary with temporary responsibility for culture and antiquities,
01:17Secretary Zorisha Hackett, speaking during an update on Tobago's October Carnival 2025 on Thursday,
01:24also addressed the need for additional flights via the air bridge to Tobago from Caribbean Airlines.
01:31But not only masqueraders, the artists that need to perform in our events
01:36are also challenged by, you know, the lack of flights to get to the island.
01:41And I think that at this point we've done everything we can do
01:45and we're just hoping and praying for Caribbean Airlines to really answer the pleas and cries of us
01:51as Tobagoians, as an executive council, even more so, that we need these flights.
01:57I mean, even if we need to have the conversation about charters,
02:00that should probably even happen now, about actually having these flights.
02:04And, you know, it's a pity because for other periods on our calendar,
02:08we see flights becoming available for other activities.
02:11TV6 News contacted Caribbean Airlines on the matter, and they stated, quote,
02:17in anticipation of the Tobago October Carnival,
02:20Caribbean Airlines added extra domestic services between Trinidad and Tobago from October 20th to 27th.
02:29The additional flights opened for sale in September, end quote.
02:34TV6 News also contacted the Port Authority for an update for additional sailings
02:40for the October Carnival.
02:42The Port Authority official said additional sailings of the TNT Spirit for Tobago Carnival
02:48are on Wednesday, 22nd, October, 2025.
02:52This is in addition to the other sailings the Port Authority previously announced
02:57that were sold out within hours.
03:00Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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