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alexk
Guest
The Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) has received $1.8 million from the State for its 2018 celebrations.
This figure is $200,000 less compared to what the ESC was given by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Arts in 2017.
Confirmation came yesterday from chairman of the ESC Khafra Kambon who said they received funding a few days ago from the ministry. He said the organisation was thankful and appreciative of what was offered to them which would go a long way.
“The figure is $1.8 million. It’s a reduction from what we received in the past. It (allocation) has been going down every year. Last year we collected $2 million.”
Asked if the sum was sufficient for the annual celebrations, Kambon opted not to comment.
“What worries me about that, is that it loses sight of what is happening. It always says that Kambon complaining about money and begging for money. That is how the headlines in the newspapers go all the time.
I don’t want to deal with the financial question. We will deal with the money question in time, in an organised systematic way.”
Pressed if they were facing any challenges with planning the celebrations, Kambon said erecting the village which consists of booths was very costly.
“It’s a hard environment where that is concerned. We will always use our will to overcome it. We are fighting the challenges. If you go to the Emancipation Village you would wonder how we even construct that.”
Kambon said this year’s celebrations will kick off on Saturday at 10 am with the opening of the Emancipation Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
The village will showcase concerts, African drumology, calypso, dance, theatre, drama, storytelling and steelpan, as well as local foods, a business symposium and creative learning workshops for the young participants until August 1.
Among those who will tour the village will be deputy chairman of the African Union Commission Kwesi Quartey, while a small delegation from Nigeria will also be present.
On August 1, Kambon said there would be a street parade starting at 8 am in front of the Treasury Building, downtown Port-of-Spain, which will end at the Queen’s Park Savannah where there will be a packed programme of cultural activities and speeches for guests and local and foreign dignitaries in attendance.
Kambon said an invitation has been extended to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to take part in the emancipation parade.
“Yes, we have extended an invitation to the Prime Minister. I don’t know what his schedule will be this year. Since Dr Rowley assumed office in 2015, he has attended our function every year. Every year at the parade, you see the Prime Minister and his ministers. This has become customary. We don’t expect this year to be any different,” Kambon said.