A police probe ordered by Acting Commissioner of Police, Edvin Martin into allegations that some persons paid thousands of dollars to a particular foreign-based outfit for costumes to take part in Spicemas 2019 and were duped has opened up a pandora’s box in Grenada.
This issue brings to the forefront a serious problem facing Carnival in Grenada that the taxpayers of this country are subsidising a carnival product in which foreigners are now taking over our largest cultural showpiece.
THE NEW TODAY has spoken to some of the affected persons who suffered at the hands of the faceless costume sellers on the internet and found out that the average cost of a costume was US$600.00 and at the high end approximately EC$3000.00 a piece.
What is emerging is that the persons behind the costumes are mainly Trinidadians who are using locals as the front to sell the costumes to persons who are interesting in playing mas.
The plan is seemingly to mass produce the costumes in Trinidad and use mainly the weekly schooners to ship them into the Spice Isle just before carnival.
It is sad that so many locals fall prey and lost their monies in seeking to purchase these costumes that are offered for sale online with not one cent getting into the coffers of the Treasury.
There is an ever growing foreign mentality in the country in which many believe that costumes from outside are far better and more superior than those produced locally by mas bands such as Andre Garvey & Associates, Commancheros & Associates, Helen Marie & Associates in St. George’s and Peter Bain in Grenville, St. Andrew.
What is also even more disconcerting is that some of the local people who opted for the foreign costumes over the local mas bands and lost their monies are working with entities that were set up by the state to promote local sports and culture.
Why is there this mentality and lack of patriotism by some of our people? Where is the loyalty of these Grenadians to things made locally?
This issue about the influx of foreign costumes into our annual Spicemas should be a major cause of concern for both government and the Spicemas Corporation (SMC).
It is quite obvious that millions of dollars in foreign exchange currency are seeping through the cracks and out of Grenada and ending up in the hands of non-nationals.
And the local mas band designers and leaders are angry over this state of affairs since the same imported foreign costumes are allegedly getting the same tax breaks and concessions like them at the point of entry into the country.
One mas band organiser told this newspaper that between 50-75% of the costumes seen on the streets in St. George’s for Spicemas 2019 were designed and produced outside of Grenada and mainly in Trinidad & Tobago.
It is also alleged that one of the winning Kings and Queens of the bands paraded before the judges in costumes made in Trinidad and not any of our local designers.
So are we just taking money from the Grenadian taxpayers and pumping it into Spicemas to produce and promote a festival in which the foreigners are getting a major slice of the dollar?
A study is badly needed to see how much of the carnival dollar stays in Grenada or finds its way into the pockets of foreigners.
This unfolding situation with foreigners taking over a key aspect of our carnival celebrations definitely gives life to the song sung over a decade ago by Calypsonian Smallies that St. George’s is now Port-of-Spain.
The calypsonian was referring to the growing control of the financial sector in Grenada by big businesses from Trinidad due to their purchase of two state banks, RBTT and Republic Bank G’da Ltd, as well as the sale of the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN) to a foreign media magnet group involving Trinidadians and the building of the first national stadium at Queen’s Park by contractors from Trinidad.
And for the very first time this year, a big truck from Trinidad was actually brought in by a local band to set up a sound system to parade through the streets of St. George’s during Spicemas.
This newspaper is not suggesting that Grenada should think about imposing a ban on foreign trucks from coming in for Spicemas but for a local to step up to the challenge and fill the void.
THE NEW TODAY is looking forward to the conclusion of the probe by the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) into the costume affair as the financial transaction between the buyers and sellers did not take place on local soil.
However, more importantly is the reaction of government and the SMC to protect and safeguard the Spicemas brand, which is taking a massive beating on the Social Media platforms over the costume scandal.
SMC can no longer be seen as promoting what should really be an authentic Grenadian product and to allow it to be taken over in the end by foreigners.
Lastly, is the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security concerned that the mass influx of these foreign costumes could create a major security risk for us in terms of the drug trade especially from neighbouring Trinidad & Tobago?