Vincy Mas should not become a ‘festival of fetes’, says CDC

By Val Matthias. Updated 9:43 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), Ricardo “Ricky” Adams, has warned against allowing Vincy Mas to evolve into what he described as merely a “festival of fetes”, arguing that preserving the cultural foundations of Carnival is essential to its future.

Speaking at a CDC press conference on June 17, Mr Adams said there was a growing tendency across the region to measure the success of Carnival by the number and scale of all-inclusive parties. He cautioned that such an approach risked excluding sections of the population and undermining the traditions that gave the festival its identity.

“Sadly, a lot of people think that the way Carnival should be going is that we should reduce it to a festival of fetes,” he said.

Mr Adams noted that many of the premium events associated with Carnival carry price tags of several hundred dollars, putting them beyond the reach of some people.

“Not everybody can afford $300 and $400 a night to go into an all-inclusive event,” he said.

He argued that Vincy Mas must continue to be grounded in its cultural elements, including pan, calypso, traditional characters and mas, rather than becoming solely a music and party experience.

“If we don’t base it on some cultural aspect, then we will be competing merely on a fete and music aspect of it,” Mr Adams said.

The CDC chairman said the Southern Caribbean had long been at the centre of Carnival creativity, producing much of the music, costumes and steelpan arrangements that are enjoyed throughout the region.

Failing to nurture those traditions, he warned, could leave countries becoming consumers rather than creators of Carnival culture.

He pointed to ongoing efforts to revive traditional J’ouvert characters such as the Monkey Band and Boozy Back as part of a broader strategy to reconnect younger generations with the roots of Vincy Mas.

Mr Adams also highlighted the importance of investing in young performers, noting that this year’s calypso season featured competitors ranging from teenagers to veterans in their eighties.

“That bodes well for the art form,” he said, adding that younger artistes would benefit from the guidance and experience of older performers.

He stressed that Carnival should be viewed not only as entertainment, but also as an expression of national creativity and a driver of the creative industries.

“This is a St Vincent and the Grenadines thing,” Mr Adams said, calling on citizens to embrace and protect the festival’s cultural heritage.

His remarks came as organisers continue preparations for the climax of Vincy Mas 2026, with the festival’s official ten-day period set to begin later this month.

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