The Prime Minister says T&T's "Carnival will continue to be one of the greatest shows on earth". And that's even as the association representing fete promoters express concerns about Government's decision to ban fetes at UDeCOTT facilities including the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Kamla Persad Bissessar says the move aligns with a campaign promise to crackdown on noise pollution...one she says was not a backroom decision.
00:00As Fed promoters and other stakeholders are expressing their concerns about Carnival 2026 due to the government's crackdown on noise pollution,
00:09Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Besesta says on the social media platform X on Friday that the actions taken by her administration are not random or arbitrary
00:19and are keeping a campaign promise to restore the constitutional right of every citizen to enjoy their property in peace.
00:28Prime Minister Passat-Besesta doubled down two days after having announced that she instructed that all FETs at the Brian Lara Stadium be stopped as the noise has become unbearable for residents.
00:42This followed a report by the Express newspaper on Wednesday that the chairman of the state-owned Uticot said its board has approved a policy
00:50that there are to be no FETs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and surrounding areas under the purview of Uticot or any of Uticot's premises.
01:01The Trinidad and Tobago Promoters Association has strongly condemned what it called the government's sudden ban
01:07as they said they were informed this week that their permissions to use those venues have been revoked.
01:13The Promoters Association said the removal of venues including the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from the already limited pool
01:21has left more than 20 of the large-scale events without a home and with far too few options to accommodate large-scale productions
01:31less than 100 days before next year's Carnival.
01:35Prime Minister Passat-Besesta declared on Friday, quote,
01:38The Promoters Association said on Wednesday that events employ over 100,000 people directly during the two-month Carnival season
02:04and called the government's actions yet another top-down decision made without consultation with their sector
02:11and one that dismantles the entertainment economy in Trinidad and Tobago, known globally as the Mecca of Carnival.
02:20Prime Minister Passat-Besesta said on X on Friday that during the 2025 general election campaign,
02:26the UNC laid out a clear manifesto, a plan which she said the people overwhelmingly voted for
02:33and noted one of the key promises was a firm crackdown on noise pollution.
02:39The Prime Minister said that she spoke about this repeatedly on the public platform
02:44and it was a message which was broadcast across every major medium
02:48and that the move by her administration was not a backroom decision
02:53and was one of the biggest public consultations ever held.
02:57The Prime Minister said thousands shared their stories, their frustrations and their hopes
03:02and their voices shaped her government's policy as she gave special thanks
03:08to all those who sent countless messages and emails in full support.
03:13On Wednesday, Prime Minister Passat-Besesta promised that before the end of this year
03:18there will be the passage of the fireworks legislation in Parliament
03:22and that in addition, enhanced noise pollution laws will be introduced to regulate designated quiet hours
03:29as well as new restrictions on FETs, music trucks, residential parties and bars.
03:35On Friday, the Prime Minister said her administration's full legislative agenda in that regard
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