Minister flip-flops over carnivals

| 13/02/2020 | 95 Comments
Batabano carnival

(CNS): Despite insisting that government wanted Grand Cayman’s rival adult carnivals consolidated into one weekend, Dwayne Seymour, the minister responsible for culture, has announced another change of plan. Now Batabano will be held on Saturday, 9 May, CayMas on Monday, 18 May (Discovery Day), and the carnival on Cayman Brac will take place as planned on Saturday, 16 May, creating what the minister described as a “Carnival Week”.

In a press release issued Thursday, Seymour described negotiations about when the street parties would take place as “hard work” involving “many hours of meetings”, which was “not an easy task and required many proposals and counter-proposals with stakeholders and vested parties”. He also stated that he had asked the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) to play a more active role in handling what he clearly found to be tough negotiations.

“We have sat through many hours of meetings with the purpose of discussing decisions about how Cayman Carnival could best model from the successes of regional partners in hosting a unified carnival and creating a bar none experience,” Seymour said in the release about the carnivals, which he said were “near and dear” to his heart.

When CNCF got involved, they formed a steering committee involving the representatives from the rival revellers and were able to reach an agreement about dates, which has seen the carnivals remain as two separate events despite the efforts to claim otherwise.

The leaders of the three carnivals all claimed to be satisfied with the outcome in the release. Batabano Chairperson Donna Myrie-Stephen said she was also pleased that Junior Batabano will still be held on the first weekend of May, followed by the main parade on the second.

Brent McLean, Chairman of CayMas, said he believed the changes had the potential to position Cayman as an attractive carnival destination, while Ventisha Conolly, a member of the Braccanal Committee, said she was pleased no other carnival would compete with their street parade.

Despite arriving at a deal, not all participants were pleased. Hurley’s Media has announced that their Mas team, which has supported and jumped with CayMas for the last three carnivals, will now switch its support to Batabano so that those taking part will enjoy a full weekend of revelry. A spokesperson said that moving CayMas to a Monday will have a detrimental impact on the event, even though it is a public holiday.

“Having the road parade on Monday will have a huge impact on attendee numbers and their experience for this year’s carnival,” said Brydie Phillips, the PR and marketing manager. She also said it clashed with one of Hurley’s major annual events, the Cayman Billfish Rundown, an international fishing tournament that has already been scheduled to start on that day.

“We have been working to ensure CayMas road parade remains on the Saturday of the Discovery Day long weekend and we are incredibly disappointed with the decision that the road parade for CayMas would move to a Monday and that government officials were not able to see the value in holding it on the Saturday,” Phillips said.


Share your vote!


How do you feel after reading this?
  • Fascinated
  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Angry
  • Bored
  • Afraid
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Tags: , , , ,

Category: Community, Local News

Comments (95)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Zulu says:

    Ministers without a backbone and integrity……………..almost all of them

    10
  2. Anonymous says:

    The MLAs love to see the big booty, big booby girls. Just check out who follows who on Instagram. Trust me, it’s localized porn for them.

    13
  3. Anonymous says:

    Why on earth on a small island like this we need two parades is beyond me. Utter nonsense. Dwayne Seymour your incompetence never cease to amaze me. Well I would like to know if Eden will be attending because there will be a lot of sinning going on, he can catch them right in the act. I guess as long as they are not gay then its ok …….carry on!!!!!

    57
    2
  4. Anonymous says:

    I still do not understand why there is not more of a “fall in line” approach. Is there still not an issue with having to have roads closed for two days? Yes, this may cause less strive with the Brac, but it is still detrimental to businesses, including the hotels that I have heard have to drop their guests off and walk them to the road because the roads are closed.

    Just make CayMas for in line. There only objection is because it’s Mother’s Day? Im sure no one in that group cares about it being Mother’s Day, it’s just a convenient excuse because they want to do things their own way.

    Sometimes as the Minister you have to make hard decisions that not everyone will agree with, but you have to make a call.

    36
    1
  5. Anonymous says:

    Carnival on a Monday…employers please be prepared for all the “sick” calls on Tuesday….

    45
  6. Anonymous says:

    We need an entirely different type of government. Not just with new people, we need (deserve) much higher criteria for eligibility, with democratic consultation from the people. The era of shooting from the hip “on ego-driven ideas”, using public money, has to stop. It bleeds money and time we don’t have, on a scale we can’t even quantify due to the lack of transparency and record keeping, but we can roughly estimate from every headline, that it’s colossal. We wouldn’t run our households this way, why do we allow the business of the territory to be run like this?

    33
    1
  7. Anonymous says:

    This Minister cant even get Cayman Carnival right ? Jesus help us. He proves his high level of competency each and every time.

    45
    4
    • Anonymous says:

      I have never written in defense of an MLA before but I dislike the way people will find any excuse to go on the attack. Mr. Seymour was elected as a represented for the people of Cayman. He has access to the facts and figures relating to his decision that I am sure the people posting comments (and those who like the comments) do not have. I have had first hand experience of working with Mr. Seymour and I found him to be honest truthful and willing to take action to get things fixed. Let him do his job as the people elected him to do.

      4
      43
      • Anonymous says:

        Oh, thanks for that. Did Bodden Town vote specifically for his all-knowing directives in regards to waste management, health services, and cultural wisdom, or because he was flying the PPM banner? I think the latter. That’s why our dual party, debate and consultation-free paradigm is so broken. I can’t think of any other democracy where a full time paid Opposition is actively prevented (barred) from shadowing the government and serving some kind of the public interest worthy of the salary and benefits packages. There are no district councils or even polling. My MLA doesn’t even bother to maintain a suggestions box.

        20
      • Anonymous says:

        Please share some of the things that he has managed to fix, as the rest of us can only see (or in the case of garbage collection and the dump, smell) the things that he has not. To say nothing of his apparently changing position on the carnival from only one parade, to two parades but on the same day (using the same route but in opposite directions!), to this.

        14
      • Anonymous says:

        Sweetie, why didn’t you put your name on this if you love him so?!

  8. Anonymous says:

    Can I suggest they change the name to Braccival? The current name just doesn’t sound right.

    5
    9
    • Al Catraz says:

      The name is a reflection of Cayman’s cultural heritage. It is intended to echo “Bacchanal” which is a word for a drunken festival in honor of the traditional pagan god of wine, Bacchus. It is fitting and proper that Cayman should name a festival in honor of one of Cayman’s gods, as a reflection of the religious and spiritual values of Caymanians on the Brac. Mr. Seymour should be commended for continuing to honor this god by name.

      9
      9
      • Anonymous says:

        I thought it was just a combination of the Brac and Carnival

        10
        2
      • Anonymous says:

        Yeah, actually, this was never a government event. It was created by Rotary in 1980s, sanctioned by successive governments, to be a racey, perverted colonialist, Caribbean-style skin-baring tourist attraction. The town party/bar sales was one of the big Rotary-activity fundraisers for the year…for Rotarian pleasure and purposes.

        13
        2
        • BeaumontZodecloun says:

          It was originally — at least on the Brac — a family event, with kids in the parade and wearing costumes and such. That was — so I am told — the original Rotary vision.

          I went to Braccanal last year, and what bothered me the most was seeing children “humpin’ and bumpin'” in emulation of the adults around them. This used to be a family-friendly event. If it has morphed into an adult event, it should be held out of the public eye. I don’t personally have a problem with what goes on, but I don’t think anyone participating should be considered role models for our children.

          Don’t get me wrong — I had a good time there. Just don’t think chillun should be involved, and that includes scantily clad teenagers. That’s just wrong.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I hope to see Anthony Eden, Julianna, Tara, actually ALL MLAs and the Ministers Association at every parade in May in support of our display of our Christian values that we cherise and hold so dear

    56
    5
    • Anonymous says:

      You win the internet today!

      19
    • Anonymous says:

      All dressed in costumes.🦹🏽‍♂️🧛🏻‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧝‍♀️🧝🏾‍♂️🦸🏾‍♀️🦸🏽‍♂️

      11
      • Anonymous says:

        The dump, garbage collection, healthcare, carnival…Dwayne Seymour need I say more….he’s building quite an impressive resume….

  10. Anonymous says:

    Dwayne sounds like Commandant Lassard: “We sat through many many hours of discussions and we had many many proposals”

    All of that “work” just to arrive back to the same frustrating situation that existed before his many many discussions.

    Dwayne is more than a speed bump, he is an actual U-turn

    48
    1
    • Anonymous says:

      CNCF…? These silly excuses for drunken displays have nothing to do with Cayman culture. CNCF is only interested in throwing expensive cocktail parties in any case.

      16
      4
    • Anonymous says:

      Just like 28 person committee led by Tara Rviers to produce nothing then brag about it on her gov.ky page.

      23
      3
  11. Al Catraz says:

    “how Cayman Carnival could best model from the successes of regional partners”

    You might start by going back in time to be settled by the French or Spanish, for whom a pre-Lent Carnival of some sort is more culturally relevant many generations on, instead of inventing a fake “culture” of getting drunk and frotting in the streets to show Jesus how heterosexual everyone is.

    45
  12. Anonymous says:

    This is definitely not our culture.

    29
    4
  13. Anonymous says:

    Will homosexuals be allowed to participate?

    23
    8
  14. Anonymous says:

    No complaints. We have a full week to view what lays beneath the weekday business attire.

    10
  15. Savannah Grass says:

    All of those in any decision making capacity has just historically become dunces and messed up what could have been a huge money maker for Cayman. Neva mind da fun and unity that true Carnival exudes. Unna just killed it and allowed politics & ego to rule.
    Thankfully I Still got my Xodus family to jump with in Jam. Selah

    3
    8
  16. Anonymous says:

    They couldn’t organize a topless car wash

    24
  17. Anonymous says:

    Is not being able to organize a carnival on a Caribbean island the West Indian equivalent of Brits not being able to organize a piss up in a brewery?

    23
  18. Anonymous says:

    Carnival was never part of Cayman culture.
    It is just an overt display of sexuality.
    I am not sure this event has positive conurtations for the people of Cayman.
    Of course, our degenerate political echelon would beg to differ, and they probably won’t complain unless it is their daughter being abused or their son found out taking advantage of some poor victim.
    Carnival is disgusting, demeaning and unnecessary.
    The human body is a beautiful creation and should be respected as such.
    Men should abandon this garbage as a sign of respect to women and women should abandon this garbage as a sign of respect to themselves.
    Can we not celebrate something else?

    I’d really like to hear what the Minister for Tourism and his Boss have to say about this.

    17
    8
    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman Culture is not about respect for others Bobo. Just like Caymanian Christians is a religion only for and about Caymanian Christians. Not all Caymanians are embarrassed about this. Seems very few are. Maybe you can start your own Culture.

      9
      4
  19. Anthony says:

    Let me tell you all something. Lots of people calling in sick for that Tuesday Morning work. LMAO!

    18
    2
  20. Anonymous says:

    Brachannal is, is, I don’t know what to say. A disorganized mess. An embarrassment.

    40
    3
  21. Anonymous says:

    It REEALY doesn’t matter. It’s just a little bump in liquor sales. Literally no one is attracted to Cayman for this attraction.

    53
    6
    • Anonymous says:

      Yup, no one visits Cayman for Carnival…

      Lol top 10 dumbest comments I’ve read on this site

      5
      11
  22. Anonymous says:

    May is officially “Half Naked Month”

    31
    4
    • Mr funny says:

      Right before Gayprel opps April sorry, not sorry” lol this guys is just as lost as a kite with out a string.

      22
      8
  23. Anonymous says:

    I really don’t think the minister has a say in this since he’s in the business of promoting entertainment himself, but who am I to point out conflicts of interest with our MLA’s.

    65
    1
  24. Anonymous says:

    VOTE NO!

    28
    7
  25. Uncivil Servant says:

    Tuesday we duckin’ then.

    23
    3
  26. Anonymous says:

    The ministers whole political career is a flop.

    53
    2
  27. Anonymous says:

    What would Jesus do?

    14
    9
  28. Anonymous says:

    All that T&A in such a short period of time. I think they should call it Bounders Week.

    15
    1
  29. Anonymous says:

    Can we legalize sex toys so we can stop dancing half naked intoxicated in our streets.
    Grown adults we say?

    I am a Caymanian and I doubt our grandparents would approve of this.

    This parade stuff has nothing to do with actual culture it was created years ago by rotary to promote the island.

    Lets close the roads and cause mass traffic so we can behave irresponsibility.

    Stupid…

    66
    15
  30. Anonymous says:

    The mighty CIG can’t even arrange for carnivals to happen on the same day, keeping in mind the carnivals aren’t legal without proper government authorisation meaning the CIG holds literally all the cards and somehow managed to not actually resolve the issue

    Sit the organizers down in a room and say “integrate the events or neither of you will have them and we can try again next year, when you are feeling more sensible” its literally that simple

    Don’t worry though, they can totally be trusted with the cruise port

    Laughable, utterly laughable

    75
    1

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.