With just over a month to go before the highly anticipated climax of Lucian Carnival 2025, Chairperson of the Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC), Tamara Gibson, says preparations are not only on track but already showing impressive results.
Speaking on Vaval Central Wednesday morning, Gibson highlighted the early successes of the season while reiterating the Committee’s strategic focus on inclusivity, youth engagement, cultural preservation, sustainability, and responsible enjoyment — the five key pillars guiding this year’s national festival.
Carnival activities began in March with auditions for the National Carnival Queen Show and have since gathered momentum. A standout achievement this year is the high level of youth participation. A robust school-centered calendar featured primary and secondary school calypso, soca, and steel pan competitions, with several performances going viral across the region.
“The students’ enthusiasm was unmatched. The National Schools Tour, which launched right after Jazz, truly ignited the carnival spirit among the youth,” Gibson said. “They are the future of the festival, and from what we saw this weekend, the future looks bright.”
Due to the overwhelming turnout, youth competitions were for the first time held separately for primary and secondary schools — a significant evolution for the festival.
Gibson also revealed that the CPMC is placing renewed emphasis on pan music and traditional masquerade art forms. Steel pan will take center stage during both Carnival Monday and Tuesday, thanks to support from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in a broader effort to enhance the festival’s cultural components. Old Mas will also receive increased visibility this year.
“We noticed a decline in participation and want to preserve this cultural expression,” Gibson noted. “Subventions for Queen and King of the Bands continue to support costume production, ensuring this vital aspect of the festival remains alive.”
As part of a new sustainability initiative, the Carnival Queen contestants will participate in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony this Friday at the Prime Minister’s residence. “In 25 years, these young women will be able to return and see the trees they planted,” Gibson said, underscoring the long-term vision for a greener, more responsible carnival legacy.
