EBOLA ANXIETY
Arts Minister: Meeting next week on future of Carnival
By Michelle Loubon (T&T Express)
Story Created: Oct 10, 2014 at 9:13 PM ECTArts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas has instructed his staff to convene a “national conversation on Carnival and Ebola” by next week to discuss the future of the festival.
Ebola is a deadly virus originating in parts of West Africa. It is classified as a haemorrhagic fever and may be transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood and secretions. Ebola has claimed the life of one person in the United States, Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian, and 4,033 people in other parts of the world.
Douglas said he will have to be guided by the directives from the Ministries of Health and National Security. He also said it may not be the first time Carnival, which is often billed as “The Greatest Show on Earth”, might be postponed.
Meanwhile, Douglas said plans are moving apace for Carnival 2015, which is scheduled for February 16 and 17.
Carnival researcher Alvin Daniell said Carnival was shifted from February 14 and 15 in 1972 to May due to the polio epidemic which had claimed ten lives. It had prompted the late Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) to sing the classic “Rainorama”, “Polio or no polio: We Want We Mas”.
Via a telephone interview yesterday, Douglas said: “I won’t be making the decision alone. I have immediately began to ask my staff to issue a national conversation on Carnival and Ebola. By next week Wednesday or Thursday, we will have a conversation with all the relevant stakeholders to look at all the options if it ever reaches to that.”
Douglas added, “I am sure Health and Security would make a decision. They would be at the forefront to guide the necessary level of thought. It may not be the first time Carnival is postponed because of the threat of a debilitating disease.”
Sharing his sentiments on Ebola, Douglas said, “It is a significant threat to the world. It is ‘ground zero’ in the African continent and places like Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. This is not chikungunya (CHIKV) or a simple virus. It has the potential to spread across the country. I am committed to protecting the health and safety of the national community. For a small country like ours, an Ebola outbreak can decimate it in a small space of time.”
Asked about Carnival 2015 preparations, Douglas said, “Preparations are in place for Carnival. The National Carnival Commission and I met. Plans are in place for the routes. I have been to a number of band launches. Everybody will have to be cautious and on their guard. Those of us who travel we will have to be extremely cautious. The State is looking at controlling and making sure people are arriving on the shores after being properly screened.”
Well-established vectors for infection include handling primates infected with Ebola, contact with infected corpses during funeral services and touching infected patients without exercising proper caution.
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said yesterday, “We have to look at the international approaches. I have met with the adviser on health issues. I will take a decision. It is not a decision against having the Carnival but we are looking at international travel patterns. And a lot of screening will be going on to prevent the transmission. Once that occurs, there would be no problem.”
Principal Medical Officer of Environmental Health Dr Clive Tilluckdharry said, “We have to wait and see how it (Ebola) goes.”
With regard to chikungunya, Tilluckdharry said, “The number should be 100. People have to take the necessary precaution and keep their surroundings clean.” —See Page 23