What we are witnessing is a Carnival economy captured by a small 1%, while the wider population absorbs the cost financially, socially, and economically.
A handful of promoters, large bands, fete organizers, beverage distributors, and financiers extract millions in profits, while ordinary citizens are encouraged, almost programmed, to spend money they do not have: maxed out credit cards, short term bank loans, hire purchase costumes, and post Carnival financial stress.
This is not cultural celebration anymore; it is structured consumption, where “vibes” replace value and debt is normalized as participation.
More troubling is the productivity drain on Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival has quietly expanded beyond its traditional boundaries, swallowing the Lenten period and bleeding into weeks of fetes, cooldowns, and “last lap” events.
The result? Lost workdays, exhausted employees, absenteeism, and reduced output. It is unrealistic to expect someone who feted until 3 a.m. to function meaningfully at work, if they show up at all, the next morning. This is not sustainable for a small economy already under pressure.
Carnival should uplift the nation, not enrich a few while weakening the many. Without serious national reflection and policy balance, we risk mistaking excess for culture and debt fuelled indulgence for patriotism, at a heavy cost to productivity, discipline, and long term development.
Gordon Laughlin,
Westmoorings
