Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Toronto Caribbean Festival Launch


largest Toronto Festival launch crowd, Creativity Lacking
By William Doyle-Marshall
Wow! This is the best description for Tuesday’s launch at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square of the 2013 edition of the city’s mammoth Caribbean festival (Caribana). Some will boast about it being the best ever but I have to challenge that. It was the largest lunchtime crowd attending since the Festival Management Committee started producing the event following its political coup over the Caribbean Cultural Committee. That was the success of political wits.
   Considering this is a Toronto Caribbean cultural festival why was Ravi B, who does not live here included as the major act in this prime time launch. That speaks volumes for Toronto calypsonians. Which is the correct reason? Calypsonians here are not regarded as good enough or is it because Ravi B appeared gratis? Or did he pay to be on the show? Again that’s the kind of action or reaction when you have a lame-limbed organization speaking for calypsonians.
Minister of Citizenship & Immigration at festival launch

   Pre-launch promotion promised a barrage of activities following the official launch. From 2:00 to 8:00pm the Festival Management Committee announced that festival supporters would have entertainment and numerous food selections right through to the end. But after Ravi B left the stage Nathan Phillips Square was transformed into a sort of wake environment. All that was missing were coffee, crackers and cheese. Ravi B provided the rum in his song. Yes, there were booths but nothing to attract the passersby. Even those assembled on site engaged in conversations getting up to date on things as many had not seen each other since last year or maybe two years ago.
  What about creativity? The launch of a festival must provide insight of things to come. There is much hoopla about the parade along the Lakeshore and the contest for the best king and queen title. Current and retired masquerade band leaders were present but what about an amazing creation being showcased to that lunch time assembly. Nothing of the sort. Scotiabank could have commissioned a work or two for the launch. Certainly they could have enticed some new converts to this cultural spectacle. Exhibiting young women’s bodies decorated with beads, bikinis and feathers cannot be considered creativity. Sorry. Not good enough.
masqueraders on display at festival launch!

Mayor Rob Forde reminded the gathering in Nathan Phillips Square that the “Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival is the largest in North America attracting millions of visitors to this city each year for several weeks. The festival contributes to the economic vitality of this great city and promotes harmony. The Mayor proclaimed July 9 to August 4. This is something everyone must be proud of.
                                          Nathan Phillips Square at Caribbean Festival launch

   If this is true, what is the Festival Management Committee hiding? I am convinced that this organization does not understand the role of the media. Covering numerous festivals, community gatherings, political conventions and major conferences across North America and in other parts of the world, I am absolutely astounded that these people are treating media as the enemy. At the launch, they felt compelled to separate the media/press from its cherished Very Important People (VIP). Margo Harris no doubt speaking for the FMC promptly informed media practitioners that they had to remain behind the barricade – a rather inappropriate spot for conducting the affairs of covering this event. If Miss Harris and her colleagues believe that our work is to simply stand in one spot and photograph scantily clad girls, she must think again. We do not all belong to the tits and ass club. Some of us actually do more than that. So we must move around in search of those special shots and interviews/comments as well. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to call for a total media boycott of this festival. Remember the saying: ’you do not attract bees with vinegar’. Just imagine a total media blackout on this 46 year old festival. There are many other stories we could gladly cover where organizers would happily welcome us. Shoddy planning and adopting exclusionary tactics will get FMC no where but in the media’s dog kennel.

July10, 2013

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