T&T Carnival 2021 is officially cancelled

After months of uncertainty and speculation, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minster Keith Rowley announced that the Carnival 2021 scheduled for February is officially cancelled because of COVID-19.

“I see no future for Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago in the months ahead. And today I can put everyone on notice that unless there is some dramatic wind that will blow across us whereby by Christmas, COVID would be a thing of the past—Carnival 2021 is not on.”

Rowley emphasised that Carnival was the perfect environment for the virus to spread. He then encouraged the public to look on the bright side despite the announcement. 

“Picture Jouvert morning, but with the coronavirus still a major issue, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but in the world around us. It’s just not on. Let us be thankful that we are still alive to see each other’s faces.”

The Prime Minister added that the government is more keen in preserving lives than keeping T&T’s economy intact. It was estimated the postponement cost the island about $2.35 million in tourist revenues.

“This decision I know will have serious economic knock-on effects but by the same token we can’t hope to gain on that swing and die on the merry-go-round.”

Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Arts Randall Mitchell meanwhile said they will continue to work hard to ensure Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival remains at the forefront of the global Carnival landscape and will lay the foundation for an even bigger and better Carnival 2022.

This will be the third time in history that T&T’s Carnival has been cancelled – first was during World War II and second in 1972 during a polio outbreak.

Other Caribbean countries like Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Jamaica have earlier cancelled their Carnivals and other related events for the rest of 2020.