By KARL CUPID Tobago Bureau Friday, March 25 2011

This was confirmed yesterday by THA Secretary of Community Development/Culture Tracey Davidson-Celestine, at the weekly post-Executive Council meeting media briefing.

She made it clear the Division had no intention of entertaining the request for more funding unless TUCO (Tobago) accounts for the expenditure of funds that it had been previously allocated.



Giving an update on the status of preparations for the staging of carnival celebrations in Tobago — for which the THA had allocated some $5.7 million, Davidson-Celestine said there has been “some challenges” relating to the operations of TUCO (Tobago).



She said the body had been granted an allocation of $1million to cover its expenditure for this year’s carnival, including prizes and other operational costs, but was now seeking additional funds to the tune of some $400,000 for operation of its calypso tents.



“We are not prepared to give any further funding to TUCO (Tobago) without an account of how the previous funds ($1 million) were utilised,” she stressed. On the other hand, she revealed the THA had taken a decision to financially assist those Tobago calypsonians who had qualified to participate in competitions in Trinidad. She explained the Division would assist by meeting “some of their costs”. Meanwhile, she reported that the THA would also be providing some $1 million to assist with transportation and accomodation costs of those Tobago steelbands which made it to the National Panorama semi-finals/finals in Trinidad.



She noted Pan Trinbago had put the overall cost of the undertaking for the Tobago bands’ participation at some $2.06 million, with Pan Trinbago footing the rest of the bill.



A record seven steelbands from Tobago qualified for competition in Trinidad this year, and Davidson-Celestine noted that this amount had not been anticipated, so in the circumstances the Assembly had to pitch in and assist. Overall, she said plans for carnival festivities in Tobago were progressing nicely, with some 34 mas bands so far registered. “So the Carnival is alive and well!” she asserted.