By Aabigale McIntosh

The launch date for the Antigua’s Carnival, the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ahead of the official launch most of the major troops are already set and ready to go.

Equally important portfolio Minister Daryl Matthew is also sharing that this year’s event is shaping up to be one filled with excitement.

He said his team met last week to discuss the theme which he said the public will be very appreciative off.

“I have seen the Mas Troops starting to roll out Sechuns came out of the block very early. I notice one of the sections are already sold out so kudos to them. Over the last week both Insane and Myst have launched what I think are spectacular productions”. Mathew said.

He also shared that while carnival is a celebration for everyone to enjoy, there is a major factor that needs to be considered.

“The planning is well underway I just want to say to the public that we need to recognize that we can’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Carnival and all the feting that comes along with carnival and all the business that goes along with it comes at a cost and it cannot be the sole responsibility of government,”

“We have competitions that really generate no revenue at all, but there are tremendously expensive but, if we are going to continue supporting them, there must be a reciprocated input for the Artisans,” the minister said.

He has however, expressed gratitude to the relevant stakeholders for an amazing past events and an even better 2024.

“We came off an high for carnival 2023 and I want to use the opportunity to give a massive shout out to all the stakeholders who made Carnival 2023 an exciting spectacle and I think it set the stage for what I believe will be a great, great, great carnival 2025,” he added.

The festival is set for July 25th to August 6th 2024.