By Dr Jack Warner
Thousands of Trinidad and Tobago citizens continue to embrace Divali Nagar as one of the country’s most important cultural celebrations. Yet behind the colourful displays, entertainment, and steady flow of visitors, some vendors face a troubling commercial reality: attracting crowds does not necessarily mean making money.
Reports from the 2026 Divali Nagar indicate mixed experiences among businesses. Some vendors have complained about disappointing sales, while others report satisfactory trading. The contrast raises a question that extends far beyond the festival grounds in Chaguanas.
Are we witnessing the consequences of an economy in which people remain eager to participate in national celebrations but increasingly cautious about spending?
A handful of vendor interviews cannot establish the answer. Nevertheless, their experiences provide an opportunity to examine the pressures confronting small businesses and consumers.
For many entrepreneurs, Divali Nagar represents an important commercial investment. Vendors must purchase stock, prepare merchandise, arrange transportation, hire help, and cover the costs of operating their booths. They incur these expenses before the first customer arrives.
A business may attract considerable attention throughout the festival and still struggle to recover its investment if visitors purchase little. This distinction between attendance and actual spending deserves greater recognition.
The National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) estimates that staging this year’s festival will cost approximately TT$5 million. Organisers have also faced uncertainty over sponsorship from state enterprises, generating controversy about the financing of a celebration that has become part of our national heritage.
The dispute should not obscure Divali Nagar’s contribution to cultural preservation, religious expression and entrepreneurship.
For four decades, the festival has given businesses opportunities to showcase products, build customer relationships, and take part in one of the country’s most significant cultural gatherings.
Its value cannot be measured exclusively by commercial transactions. However, cultural significance should not prevent a legitimate examination of its economic sustainability.
If vendors experience declining profitability, organisers should investigate the reasons rather than assume that large crowds guarantee commercial success.
Kerwin Garcia, looks on at the Divali Nagar last Wednesday
Are booth rental costs reasonable? Are operating expenses increasing? Does the visitor mix influence spending? Are customers comparing prices more carefully now or postponing discretionary purchases? These questions require evidence.
The broader economic implications matter as much. When households face pressure from food prices, transportation, utilities and other essential expenses, discretionary spending becomes vulnerable. Families may continue attending festivals because cultural participation remains important, while limiting purchases to what their budgets permit. Such behaviour is economically understandable.
It would be premature to conclude that disappointing sales at some Divali Nagar booths establish a nationwide collapse in consumer purchasing power. But the possibility that household financial pressures are influencing spending patterns deserves serious examination.
Government and the media cannot assess economic well-being solely through headline indicators, investment announcements or official assurances of progress. The lived experiences of consumers and small-business operators must also inform economic policy.
An economy may attract investment while existing businesses struggle with financing costs, weak demand and uncertain profitability. Likewise, employment statistics alone cannot establish whether household incomes are sufficient to maintain reasonable living standards. What matters is whether economic activity translates into greater financial security for ordinary citizens.
Small and medium-sized enterprises deserve particular attention. They provide employment, support families and contribute to commercial activity throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Yet many operate with limited financial reserves and cannot easily absorb repeated losses.
Government should therefore examine practical measures to improve access to affordable financing, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and strengthen entrepreneurship.
Diamond level sponsorship of Divali Nagar, at the news conference hosted by the NCIC
Festival organisers can contribute by reviewing booth pricing, promoting participating businesses and collecting reliable information about vendor experiences. The NCIC should consider a voluntary post-festival survey covering sales performance, operating costs, customer traffic and business satisfaction. Such information would help distinguish temporary difficulties from persistent commercial problems and guide improvements for future celebrations.
Corporate sponsors also have an important role to play. Supporting cultural events should not be viewed merely as charitable expenditure. Properly structured partnerships can preserve national traditions while creating opportunities for local enterprises.
However, public-sector sponsorship must remain transparent, financially responsible and free from political favouritism.
Divali Nagar should never become a casualty of political disagreement. Its religious and cultural importance transcends whichever administration occupies office.
Ultimately, vendors’ experiences remind us that economic prosperity cannot be judged by appearances. Busy shopping centres, crowded festivals and heavily attended public events may demonstrate social enthusiasm without establishing commercial prosperity. The true measure is whether businesses can earn sustainable returns and households possess sufficient disposable income to support them.
Trinidad and Tobago needs an economy in which cultural celebrations generate meaningful opportunities, not merely impressive crowds.
As Divali Nagar celebrates its 40th anniversary, the country should honour its remarkable contribution while asking whether the economic conditions facing its entrepreneurs are improving.
The lights of Divali symbolise the triumph of light over darkness. Our economic policies must now ensure that the prosperity celebrated in public is also experienced by the families and businesses sustaining our national traditions.
