CARNIVAL MONDAY IN CARRIACOU FOR THE FIRST TIME DECLARED A BANK HOLIDAY In a move welcomed by the People of Carriacou, the government of Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas has taken the bold and decisive step to declare Carnival Monday in Carriacou a bank holiday. Unlike Grenada, which holds its carnival in August, Carriacou celebrates Carnival as a traditional pre-Lenten festival. For the past 23 years, the People of Carriacou and Petite Martinique have been clamouring for Carnival Monday to be a public holiday in the Sister Islands. Their appeal was taken to Cabinet by Senator the Hon. George Prime,
Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Prime Minister Thomas and his Cabinet, in accordance with the Bank Holiday Act Cap. 25, acceded to the request of the People of Carriacou and Petite Martinique and granted them their wish. Observers described the government's action as a fulfilment of a commitment the National Democratic Congress made on assuming office in July 2008. The NDC administration gave the assurance that the unique cultural heritage of Carriacou and Petite Martinique will be enhanced and preserved, taking several immediate steps such as reviving the steel band movement and boosting support for the Carriacou Parang Festival.
Launching of
“ZEMI” Carriacou's boat building tradition is traced back to 1833 when Benjamin Compton came from England and today his descendants are keeping the tradition alive in what has become known as the boat-building village of Windward.
The launching of a boat here is a major event and it was no different when “Zemi”, a boat built by well-known shipwright Alwin Enoe and sons was launched on Sunday, January 10th, 2010. The day before the launching a goat was killed and its blood was spilled as the elderly folks say to appease the gods. On the day, the local Roman Catholic priest blessed the boat while the choir sang beautifully intertwined with rum and water and the cooking of saraca food (roll rice, coo-coo and meat). The cutting down ceremony was a beautiful sight as the men hacked down the supports in unison, dropping the vessel abruptly on her port side. This tradition has attracted people from throughout the island as well as visitors from other parts of the world as they flocked the Windward shoreline to witness this unique aspect of Carriacou's culture. The Workings of The Ministry of Carriacou & Petite Martinique Affairs
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