PR – Minister for Youth, Sports, and Culture Hon. Ron Redhead has expressed his deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government as well as the Carriacou Carnival Committee, for the hosting of a successful Carriacou Carnival, fondly known as ‘Kayak Mas 2023’.
Held under the theme “Reminiscing on the past, savoring our moments and creating endless moments of Kayak Mas,” the festival was held from the 16th to the 21st of February 2023.
Minister Redhead stated, “My gratitude goes out to the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government, the Carriacou & Petite Martinique Carnival Committee and various mas’ bands.”
He noted further, “Congratulations to all our local talent, performers, pageant participants, who came out and performed exceptionally well. I would like to congratulate all the winners and commend them for a job well done throughout the six (6) days of what we consider our home grown largest cultural event of the year, on the sister isles.”
He expressed, “I would like to thank the men and women of our Royal Grenada Police Force for a job well done, the personnel from the emergency medical services, public works, and volunteers. Congratulations to our booth holders for putting on the best cuisine that our Sister Isle has to offer.”
“Finally, but by no means the least, I would like to thank the revelers and Carnival lovers who came out in the thousands to support this unique cultural event as well as our visitors who came specifically for ‘Kayak Mas 2023’” Minister Redhead said on Friday.
‘Kayak Mas’ received four hundred thousand dollars (EC$400,000.00) in support this year which included two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the National Lottery Authority (N.L.A), and one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) from the central government through the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government.
The major activities included Soca, Groovy, and Calypso Monarch competitions, Fancy Mas parade, J’ouvert, Shakespeare Mas parade and a last lap jump on the streets of Hillsborough.