NEW JUNIOR CARNIVAL ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, GUIDED BY GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE TO PRESERVE SAINT LUCIA'S UNIQUE CULTURE.

The Carnival Planning Management Committee (CPMC) launched Lucian Junior Carnival today, May 15, with an overarching objective to increase youth involvement in the cultural festival.

Head of the Carnival Planning Management Committee, Tamara Gibson, listed the events on the 2025 itinerary.

“We have been hard at work preparing for Lucian Junior Carnival. This part of the festival opens the Carnival season. We are working with the departments of Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries, and the Ministry of Education to ensure that we can produce yet another successful event. We’re excited because this year we have tried to make the calendar for the juniors very exciting," she said. “We start with the National Schools Calypso Competition and we will also host the very first National Schools Soca Competition. The Schools Pan Fest and the Junior Parade of the Bands follow. But before we get to all of that we have the National Schools Tour. Last year was our first year we hosted the tour and it was very well received. We are due to start the 2025 Junior Carnival Schools Tour next week, the schools are ready to receive us, and we’re ready to go.”

Coordinator of Junior Music Competitions, Jason “Bachelor” Joseph, provided a bit more insight into the song competitions.

“For the calypso competitions as usual we have 10 primary schools and 10 secondary schools competing. For the soca competition we were only able to get eight primary schools and eight secondary schools so they automatically went through to the final competition. The soca competition turnout was surprising because several schools have been asking for this competition and I was of the impression that it would be more popular because the young people like jumping and waving, but perhaps we are off to a slow start because it is the first year, and hopefully it will pick up in the coming years.

He continued: “Actual preparations for the song competitions begin tomorrow. We have a Voice and Performance Workshop which helps the students sing and perform better. Then we have rehearsals with the band shortly after.”

Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire explained the government’s strategy for the cultural celebration.

“Our role in the ministry is to provide policy direction and elucidate what the government’s position is on carnival, and to provide guidance to CPMC.

"I’m excited about this year because, from all projections it will probably be our biggest yet just in terms of the sheer growth. Every year we assess how we will grow. In order to stay relevant and to meet long term goals, we cannot remain static. The National Schools Tour, for example is an exciting addition and something that is necessary when we speak of sustainability, cultural preservation and responsible behavior which we need to highlight as one of the four pillars. The introduction of the National Schools Soca Competition is also exciting. Lucian Junior Carnival is the foundation for what we have and we need to ensure that the foundation is secure in order to improve the peak quality.”

The five main events on the Lucian Junior Carnival calendar of activities are the National Schools Tour from May 19 to 30, the National Schools Calypso Competition on June 6, the National Schools Soca Competition on June 6, the National Schools Pan Fest on June 7, and the Parade of the Bands on Saturday, July 13.

Watch the Press Launch of Lucian Junior Carnival here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM2DIQdt9jQ