The Couva Carnival Committee (CCC) has received high ratings for organising “one of the best regional Carnivals” in the country over the years, particularly in 2016, despite the downturn in the economy and reduction of its annual subvention from the National Carnival Commission (NCC).
The plaudits came from Member of Parliament for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh, and Darian Marcelle, NCC Commissioner, who delivered remarks at the Prize Distribution and Appreciation Function held at the Couva/Pt Lisas Chamber of Commerce auditorium on Saturday, March 12.
Indarsingh, who has been a longtime supporter of Couva Carnival, hailed the selfless commitment of the committee, headed by long-serving chairman Ramchand Rajbal Maraj, in raising the standard of the celebrations over the years.
“The members of the Couva Carnival Committee expend a lot of time and effort and personal sacrifices to present the best Carnival to the public. I want to appeal, as I have done before, to corporate entities to come on board and support their efforts,” Indarsingh pleaded.
Marcelle told the appreciative audience that Couva Carnival “is one of the best organised and presented regional Carnivals in the country,” and lamented the fact that the NCC had no option but to reduce its subventions across the board in 2016.
“We are fully supportive of your efforts and will facilitate you to the fullest. Regional bodies keep the real traditions of Carnival alive and I urge the business community to partner with the regional Carnivals to ensure we keep raising the bar,” said Marcelle.
He congratulated the CCC for presenting the commission with an enthralling and comprehensive Couva Carnival 2016 Activity Report which documented the full Carnival activities for the season.
CCC chairman Ramchand Rajbal Maraj thanked all stakeholders and sponsors for their wonderful support of the various activities, adding that more corporations must come on board.
Pride of place for Couva Carnival 2016 went to Chase Village Carnival and junior calypsonian N’Janella Duncan-Regis, who registered unprecedented championship beaver-tricks for Band of the Year and Junior Calypso Monarch, respectively.