00:00The Point Fortin Borrow Day Festival, now a nationally recognized event, is being described as one of the town's greatest
00:08treasures.
00:09Point Fortin became a Borrow Day on the 30th of April, 1980, and the celebration would have evolved into what
00:18it is now from in the 90s to now.
00:21But this year's celebrations come against the backdrop of strained relations between central government and the Borrow Corporation.
00:30It is a bit, um, a bittersweet for me now being in the member of parliament and being in office
00:38in central government and having now that we, parties in local government belong to the opposition and there seems to
00:48be a challenge with us working together.
00:51Whereas the festival was for decades handled by the Borrow Corporation, Kizar explains that with the festival becoming a national
00:59event in 2025, it now warrants the involvement of central government.
01:04The recent utterances and Facebook lives by the various members of the council, including the Honorable, the esteemed mayor himself
01:15and some of his members of council, to me, only fuels some unfortunate division.
01:24Despite the ongoing friction, Kizar insists the festival will go on regardless of differences.
01:30Point Fortin Borrow Day is going to go on whether we like it or not. And when I mean we,
01:38I mean both sides.
01:39He extended an olive branch, urging collaboration to ensure the success of this year's events.
01:45I wish to extend my hand of cooperation once more to the Borrow Council and the Borrow Corporation.
01:55Let us rally through this 2026 Borrow season. Make sure that the events that you would have put out on
02:03your calendar yesterday comes off successfully.
02:07Kizar is also promising additional events to enhance the overall celebration.
02:12I am going to have an event myself to add to the mix to make sure the event comes off
02:19even more successfully.
02:21And while there have been disagreements over funding and planning, the minister is urging all parties to move forward constructively.
02:28As soon as the events are over, let's all sit at the table and make sure that come next year,
02:35we don't have this challenge anymore in terms of funding and who will get money and who will give money
02:42and all this other thing.
02:43He reaffirmed government's full backing for the festival and its cultural significance.
02:48The government of Trinidad and Tobago fully supports the culture of Trinidad and Tobago and fully supports the Point Forte
02:57Borrow Day Festival 2026.
03:00And with a direct appeal to citizens and visitors alike, Kizar is encouraging strong public support for the celebrations.
03:09Come down to Borrow Day. Do not stay away because Borrow Day, it ain't no tricks in 2026. Come down.
03:16The Point Forte Borrow Day Festival is expected to culminate at the end of April with a series of cultural
03:23events aimed at showcasing the Borrow's heritage and community spirit.
03:29Urvishita Wari Rupnerai, TV6 News.
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