Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan says there is no need to cancel Carnival 2015 because of the threat of the Ebola virus. However, he does not rule out the possibility that this could change if the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) declare otherwise. Some members of the public have been calling for Carnival to be cancelled on social media and in letters to the press.
In a telephone interview, Khan said he planned to hold a press conference today to discuss the Government’s moves to deal with Ebola. A National Ebola Response Unit and a four-bed isolation unit at the Caura Hospital have been set up to deal with any suspected cases. Khan said a National Health Committee was appointed to work with the Ministries of National Security and Transport to ensure that precautions were taken when dealing with passengers entering T&T. Two rooms at the Piarco International Airport have also been upgraded as containment units to deal with travellers suspected of carrying the virus.
Chairman of the National Carnival Bands Association David Lopez said his organisation would follow the ministry’s guidelines on Ebola. “We cannot discount the fact that Ebola is at our doorstep. However, unless instructed otherwise, we will continue to prepare for Carnival 2015,” Lopez said. He added that it would not be the first time this had happened, as Carnival was postponed in 1972 because of a polio outbreak. Several bandleaders also said it was too early to say whether Carnival should be cancelled because of Ebola.
General manger of Passion, Sheena Tang Nian, said: “No, I don’t believe that Carnival should be cancelled unless Ebola becomes an imposing threat. Currently the Government has the situation under control. If it is a world-wide threat then certainly Carnival should be reviewed.” CEO of Island People Colin Greaves also said it was too early to decide whether Carnival should be cancelled.
“Our Carnival involves a lot of person-to- person interactions, and notwithstanding the large number of foreigners from Europe, Japan, US and the Caribbean islands, the threat of Ebola is something we have to be concerned about,” Lopez said.
“We are aware of the possibilities that Carnival could be cancelled. I heard on one of the talk programmes that when Ebola reaches the US, it reaches the Caribbean,” he added.
Saying precautionary measures must be taken, Greaves said thousands of people would be affected if Carnival was cancelled and called on the ministry to liaise with bandleaders and other organisations before taking any decision.
Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas said he met regularly with Carnival organisations and would be guided by the Ministry of Health on Ebola. “If Ebola becomes a threat to the country, then Government will have to take the necessary steps. I have always had conversations with Carnival associations. That is given, we will meet,” he added. He said that was an issue that affected national security and it would be Government’s top priority to ensure that citizens were safe. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran said he had not given the cancellation of Carnival much thought but the Ministry of Health would provide guidelines in the coming months.