ANTIGUA CARNIVAL

The culture industry is considered one of the most booming sectors globally. Cabinet and the Ministry of Culture are hoping to capitalise on this by employing the services of five local artistes to market the twin-island nation.

This is according to Minister of Culture Eleston “Namba” Adams who yesterday said lead singer of Red Hot Sir Clarence “Oungku” Edwards, reigning Soca Monarch Tian Winter, former soca monarchs Claudette “CP” Peters and Tanzania “Tizzy” Sebastian and 2012 Road March champ and lead singer of Burning Flames Toriano “Onyan” Edwards, have already taken up duty as cultural envoys.

"We have decided on those five individuals because they are at the top of their game at this moment," Adams said. "We are setting the stage for them to go on to continue to do the fine work they are doing in promoting Antigua & Barbuda throughout the region and further afield."

Also, Antigua and Barbuda's pre-eminent calypso royalty Sir McClean Emmanuel, Sir Rupert Philo and Mr. Paul Richards have been appointed as “Goodwill Ambassadors”, effective Monday, July 29, 2013.

These three have toiled in the cultural vineyard for more than five decades, placing Antigua and Barbuda on the map with their music.

The artistes will work with the Ministry of Tourism, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the Department of Culture, to help promote the destination in the Caribbean, North American and European markets. The terms of their engagement include three charitable concerts per year.

He noted that these artistes attract the biggest turnout to Carnival City each year and pre-carnival and carnival fetes are well attended once these artistes are featured in the line up.

The Cabinet Decision notes that other eligible individuals will be named cultural envoys in due course.