BY ANDREW DICK/ SXM News Room
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten –“No more international bands for the upcoming 2016 carnival season for the Jouvert morning jump up St Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) said President Michael Granger in an interview on his social media page. The foundation made the call this year and decided to stick with it from now on.
Carnival info 2016 with Bobby MohawkInterview with president of SCDF Michael Granger
Posted by McSpongey on Saturday, May 30, 2015
Marketing Director of the SCDF Rolando Brison in an invited comment to 721 news said “to ensure more participation for local bands, we decided to go in that directions. Jouvert Jump up is the biggest event of the carnival season in recent years and has grown considerably over the years. The foundation is also looking at the possibility of two jouvert jump up’s for the 2016 season however did not confirm that decision as yet. It is customary for companies or groups to bring in a foreign band and charge revelers a fee where they get a shirt and free drinks during the jump up sessions.
Brison says the foundation needs to look out for the interest of local music and bands and this move will allow the bands to step up in a big way as Jouvert is the biggest event of Carnival. In the interview on his social media page, Granger stated that you cannot go to another island with your own band and take part in their jouvert and this is why we want to protect our local bands. The news came as a surprise to everyone as it has become customary for bands to fly in for the event. Outside bands are still welcome to take part in the parades. The 2016 carnival season will start on April 14 through May 3.
