With publication of its 2023 Carnival schedule (see related story), St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) removed any uncertainty as to who will organise next April’s edition. Some doubt had been sowed at the end of last year with a budget amendment in Parliament initiated by United People’s (UP) Party faction-leader Rolando Brison calling for the annual festivities to be put on bid.
SCDF approached Parliament in June to reconsider this tendering decision and said mere talk of such created problems with commitments in a financially already difficult situation following the COVID-19 pandemic. They gave other examples in the recent past where government’s actions without prior consultations had cost them in terms of funding, sponsorships, Carnival Village pass sales, etc.
The controversy seemed over until, during a November 1 meeting on the amended 2022 budget, Finance Minister Ardwell Irion (National Alliance) told elected representatives about going through a strategy to assess how Carnival 2023 is to be managed. He further spoke of a third-party investigation for which the process had been initiated by the former government, saying this auditing effort was continued and its now-completed findings will be presented to the legislature.
Issues were mentioned with financial accountability; procedural transparency; unfair and imbalanced contractual practices regarding, for example, booth placement allocations; incorporating cultural aspects; safety and security for residents; as well as clarity about the sale and distribution of seasonal passes.
New SCDF president Edwardo Radjouki minced no words in his subsequent reaction, warning that they would not allow government to undermine the foundation’s operations, adding that it felt like a political witch hunt. He revealed that – ironically – on the same day Irion made his statements government had invited them to meet three days later.
It appears that encounter helped clear the air, as nothing more about the matter was heard. Hopefully the noses of all involved are now pointing in the same direction so that they can direct their energy towards ensuring a successful first “normal” Carnival since 2019.
Here’s to a wonderful “fettin season” and may the call to “come, experience life” be heeded by many visitors.
