Loop news - Laura Dowrich-P...
Mas bands are not being encouraged to use the Socadrome this year.
Speaking to Looptt on the issue of the Socadrome, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, said the alternative venue is not on the prescribed route and they are not encouraging bands other than those involved in the original use of it to go there mainly because it stretches the resources of the police.
"They have said to us it does stretch their resources because they are also involved in manning the Socadrome. We told the bandleaders we wanted them to come to the Savannah but the police explained to us that in itself is a bigger problem cause they will have to man that whole route," she revealed.
Responding to Looptt's story that the National Carnival Commission had a loose arrangement with Tribe and the other bands who use the Socadrome to cross the Savannah stage, the Minister said they have been in discussions with those bandleaders.
"What we had discussions about is that their use of the socadrome is a reponse to congestion on the streets and we understand the value of easing that. Using the other venue has spawned a feeling of elitism that wasn't intended. Even though we were in discussions time is short to really say what is the best step to easing congestion but with respect to their use of it we have not included it on our prescribed route," she said.
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