Lee JAMAICA CARNIVAL will take on new aura next year. Organiser, Byron Lee told The Gleaner that there will be less emphasis on costumed groups, with more attention being paid to floats.
"We will be going the route of all the big parades in the world where giant effigies and images create the spectacle. We won't be losing the costumed groups, but they'll be playing a reduced role," he said.
Looking back at this year's event, the music veteran of 45 years said he was satisfied with some aspects and disappointed with others.
"This year was special because we were able to cross-fertilise the cultures of the Eastern Caribbean and Jamaica. Beenie Man was a big hit this year. His presence helped to enhance the entire thing. The stigmas have been removed. Nobody sees Jamaica Carnival as an Eastern Caribbean thing anymore and it is not seen as an uptown affair or even a Kingston affair anymore. We have taken it across the country and captured the imagination of the common man," he said.
Lee admitted that the costumed division of Jamaica Carnival is in deep trouble.
"We were still not able to pull out as many people as we would like. We had about 800 revellers. The younger generation seems timid about playing mas. I don't know if it is because of the price or people are concerned about their social lives. We have to find out and address this issue," he said.
It costs Jamaica Carnival roughly $3 million each year to stage the Road Parade.
"As long as the people we are targeting come out and enjoy themselves, I'll be happy. I'm frustrated that Carnival is not being done in a way which will be to the best interest of the Carnival. All the parties involved need to come together, sit at a table and look at how the general thing can grow," he said.
