Decision day for carnival 2020 nears

In March, the organisers of carnival in Jamaica postponed the annual road march, after internal consultations with stakeholders and various government ministries about COVID-19.

The road march, originally scheduled for Sunday, April 19, was moved to Sunday, October 25.

With today being exactly two months to the scheduled date and a worrying spike in coronavirus cases which has led to the reimposition of certain restrictions, socaphiles and others are getting anxious as to whether the road march is still on.

Chairman of the Carnival in Jamaica stakeholders committee, Kamal Bankay, said an answer could come within the next 10 days. "We have a stakeholders' meeting scheduled for the first week of September and I cannot say anything until after that meeting," Bankay told THE STAR. Bacchanal Jamaica, Xaymaca International, and Xodus Carnival are all advertising the October 25 date on social media.

So-called second wave

The entertainment industry has come in for its share of blame as it regards the so-called second wave of COVID-19 cases, which has seen record single-day increases. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, in outlining the sins of the industry, said that in many instances, events were held without any permits, and even at those with permits, "the terms and conditions were blatantly disregarded by the promoters".

He announced that effective August 24, small outdoor events, parties, round robins, launches and festivals can only be held from Thursdays to Sundays between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. A further amendment has since been made as some parishes, including Kingston and St Andrew, have an earlier curfew of 7 p.m. According to Bankay, he could only reference McKenzie's observations for what was happening in the industry as a whole. But personally, his Dream Wknd Park Up and Tun Up event on August 1 had observed all protocols, and said that it was so successful that another event was planned for August 29. He added, however, that staging has been postponed because it would not be possible with the new curfew hours in effect.