Cadougan: “Vincy Mas Thrives Despite Poorest Conditions”

Deputy Chair of the Carnival Bands Association Inc., Alvern ‘Ali’ Cadougan. Image: VC3 Television.

By Val Matthias. Updated 10:50 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Deputy Chair of the Carnival Bands Association Inc., Alvern ‘Ali’ Cadougan, has issued a passionate appeal to the Vincentian business community to invest more heavily in Vincymas, warning that despite the festival’s global reputation, most bands continue to operate under dire conditions.

Speaking at the official media launch of the Carnival Development Corporation for Vincymas 2026, Cadougan highlighted that only two of the 15 registered costume bands across St. Vincent and the Grenadines have proper facilities to call home. The rest, she said, are forced to work out of rundown buildings, yet still manage to produce “the best of the best for Vincymas.”

“We operate under the poorest condition in this country, but we love the art form, and we love to see Vincymas on the world map as the best festival in the Caribbean,” Cadougan told the gathering.

She mentioned the high costs of staging carnival, noting that putting a single music truck on the road can run between $8,000 and $20,000, excluding expenses for security, food, and drinks. Contrary to popular belief, she added, “not even the party bands” make significant profits from the festival.

The CDC provides monetary and training support to the costume bands each year.

Cadougan stressed that the survival and growth of Vincymas depends on stronger partnerships with the corporate sector, alongside support from government and the Carnival Development Corporation. Contributions in cash or kind, she said, would help sustain Junior Carnival, King and Queen of the Bands, and Mardi Gras all vital components of the festival’s future.

Describing carnival as a “labor of love and sacrifice,” she urged businesses to see their investment not just as sponsorship but as a commitment to preserving Vincentian culture.

“We are hoping that coming out of this, you, the corporate sector, will invest more into the festival we call Vincymas,” she said, inviting stakeholders to join the bands and ensure that the 2026 edition becomes “The Greatest Escape.”

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About the Author: This story was written and submitted by freelance journalist Mr. Val Matthias, a trained communicator with more than two decades in the media sector. All supporting materials for this story have been presented, vetted, and verified. Mr Matthias can be reached at valmatthias188@gmail.com