00:00Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin is forging ahead with the government's vision for culture, one which she says has evolution at
00:09its core.
00:10As the Minister of Culture and Community Development from the time of my appointment and as steered by the Prime
00:18Minister, the Honorable Kamala Passat-Bissessor,
00:21we charged ahead to make positive and impactful changes across all venues under my remit.
00:27And so, again, I welcome you to Napa, and I hope you enjoy what is in store for you.
00:35Culture must evolve, and that is the mandate I give to all my boards.
00:40Our institutions must evolve, and more importantly so, the ways in which we engage audiences, communicate value, and create memorable
00:51cultural experiences must also evolve.
00:54The government is coming for harsh criticism from event, carnival, steel pan, and general culture stakeholders over moves to prohibit
01:04events at national venues,
01:06cut funding for various groups, and even dissolved the National Carnival Commission to replace it with a National Festivals Commission.
01:16That matter is still before Cabinet, so I can't make any pronouncements, because that is a Cabinet decision.
01:23It's not my decision alone, but yes, consultation did happen.
01:27And as you would appreciate, we do have other festivals, and that was actually one of the recommendations that came
01:32out of the consultations,
01:34and all of that information would be made public information.
01:37We would put it out in the public domain.
01:39The minister was speaking at the launch of the 2026 edition of Napa Jazz Fusion, a blend of jazz and
01:46a steel pan,
01:48a venture the minister believes is worthy of extra funding.
01:52We have to, as a country, respect our culture, and we have to invest more.
02:01And I know my chairman is going to get a little, how to say, a little boost in his funding,
02:12because we do have to invest more.
02:16The event is scheduled to take place on May 31st, and organizers are promising an exhilarating show.
02:24With the National Seals Symphony Orchestra, we will be collaborating and performing with Christo, Shada Patasa, Terry Lyons, Dane Galston,
02:33Neval Chetlal, Johan Chakery.
02:36Just in a few, isn't that exciting?
02:38Meantime, Chairman of Napa, Kenny Phillips, says the new board is positioning the venue to be the premier entertainment hub
02:46in the Caribbean.
02:47We have instituted some beautiful changes.
02:52We've started using the back area, Napa Hotel, the conference center, the VIP lounge, dressing rooms, business center,
03:01Bartimam's room, which originally was the Chinese restaurant, and the outdoor garden spaces.
03:08And also, you all should know that we are the landlord curator of Casa Kalani for your events.
03:16But Napa is not just what you've seen, it's a lot more.
03:22In fact, it is the premier space in the Caribbean.
03:27There is no other space like this.
03:31Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
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