Carnival 2018: the show must go on
GREAT BAY – President of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) Alston Lourens has stated that the foundation fully intends to host Carnival 2018. He recalled that Carnival 1996 is fondly remembered as one of the best ever following Hurricane Luis and the foundation is determined to repeat that feat after hurricane Irma.
The board of the foundation has already met to assess the situation and will continue to organize the event in collaboration with its stakeholders. Eight booths in the Carnival Village have been destroyed but the board says it will discuss plans moving forward with the relevant authorities.
With talk of the Village being used as a place to house displaced persons after hurricane Irma, Lourens said he is concerned about this approach and how it might affect the festival in April 2018.
“We have so many people literally telling us every day that Carnival will happen, Carnival must happen. It’s an important and vital part of our culture and mental recovery. And though we may lose our material things, you cannot take away our spirit of enjoyment and togetherness,” Lourens said.
Prior to hurricane Irma the SCDF had opened registration for Carnival 2018 online (www.sxm-carnival.com). This process is still open until December 1.
Photo caption: Bird’s eye view of the Festival Village, the location for the 2018 carnival to be organized by the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF). Photo by TODAY photo journalist, Milton Pieters.
