NCC clears the air – Prize monies increased.

National Carnival Commission, Chairman Allison Demas wishes to state that NCC recently disbursed the full amount of prize money due to NCBA. The funds distributed to Carnival 2013 prize winners have been significantly greater than in 2012. This increase was achieved as a result of lobbying by NCBA, with support from Dr. the Honourable Minister of the Arts and Multiculturalism Lincoln Douglas and Chairman Demas.

Thus an increase in prize monies of $1.3 million for the Junior and Senior Kings and Queens 2013. These funds have been dispatched by the NCC and are currently being distributed by the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA).

Saving Costs – Respecting consultation.

With the various requirements negotiated for by the mas fraternity in 2013; including increased prize money, higher quality bathroom and dressing facilities at the Queens Park Savannah, the NCBA Executive (prompted by the Joint Select Committee of Parliament and yearly calls from bandleader groups to limit the spending on Award ceremonies), took a decision to reduce their overall expenditure by not having a formal prize-giving ceremony, and by reducing the number of trophies distributed to only three for each major category (down from ten) and providing other winners with Certificates of Participation. This action has reduced expenditure by more than TT$500,000. Thus the NCBA decided not to have a prize giving ceremony in order to save costs.

Ms. Demas comments, “We apologise for the delay in the distribution of these winnings. The NCC has been publicly and privately engaging stakeholder groups and remains committed to creating a better Carnival product. This requires that some changes are made in the way our business is done. We’re committed to formulating more transparent interactions with the mas fraternity so that a better working relationship can be harnessed. We all want to see Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival re-gain its rightful place as the mecca of Carnival, as such we strive to begin our preparation for 2014, advertisements are currently running to attract a new CEO to the NCC, additionally, our company diagnostic review is currently on the way”.