By Admin. Updated 4:47 p.m., Sunday, August 16, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Efforts to build excitement for Vincy Mas 2027 have received an early boost following what officials have described as a successful promotional mission to New York aimed at strengthening ties with the Vincentian diaspora and encouraging greater participation in the landmark celebrations.
Minister of Sports, Culture and the Creative Industries, Hon. Kaschaka Cupid, recently led a delegation to the United States as part of the “Road to 50” campaign, which is laying the groundwork for Vincy Mas 2027. The festival will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the transition of Carnival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from its traditional pre-Lenten observance to the now-established June-July celebrations.
A key feature of the visit was a media briefing at the Consulate General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in New York, hosted by Consul General Patel Matthews. The event brought together members of the Vincentian diaspora and key stakeholders to outline the vision for the milestone festival and the role overseas Vincentians can play in its success.
During the briefing, Senior Advisor for Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs, Sharon Jones, introduced the department’s official Diaspora Registration QR Code. The digital initiative is intended to improve engagement with Vincentians living abroad by creating a more comprehensive database of the diaspora.
Also participating in the briefing were Richard MacLeish, Director of Sales in the United States with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority; Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) Deputy Chairman Colin Graham; Vincy Day USA Representative Gary “Tunkak” Edwards; and Chairman of the New York Vincy Mas Launch Committee, Atiba Williams.
Discussions focused on the broader value of Vincy Mas, highlighting its contribution not only as the country’s premier cultural festival but also as a driver of tourism, entrepreneurship, the creative industries and economic activity.
The delegation also included CDC Chief Executive Officer Rodney Small, Chairperson of the National Lotteries Authority Board Luann Haddaway, and National Lotteries Authority Board member Delisia DeFreitas.
While in New York, the delegation attended the annual Vincy Day USA Picnic at Heckscher State Park on Long Island, regarded as the largest gathering of Vincentians outside St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The event provided an opportunity to engage directly with thousands of Vincentians and supporters while promoting the vision behind Vincy Mas 2027.
Through the “Road to 50” campaign, the CDC is encouraging Vincentians living overseas to become ambassadors for the festival by returning home for the celebrations and introducing new audiences to the country’s culture and traditions.
The campaign also aims to showcase St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ music, mas, calypso, steel pan, heritage, creative talent and hospitality, while reinforcing the festival’s role in national development.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the New York mission allowed the delegation to engage directly with diaspora members, tourism and cultural stakeholders, and organisers of the Vincy Day USA Picnic, while presenting a unified message about the significance of the 2027 celebrations.
The delegation returned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday following the conclusion of the visit, with officials indicating that the New York engagement marks the beginning of a wider international campaign leading up to Vincy Mas 2027.
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