The annual World Creole Festival may not hold this year, and Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre has explained the reasons behind this likelihood. According to him, the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the cancellation of most cultural festivals around the world, and this is what is likely going to happen in Dominica.
He said coronavirus statistics around the world is not abating, and Dominica continues to face risks of COVID-19 importation from tourists and visitors. He added that the Ministry of Health is still considering the matter with other major stakeholders, but is not likely to support any massive public gathering as may be occasioned by the Creole festival.
“The decision has not yet been taken, but we are in the process and discussing it; but most likely, the decision will not be in favour of it; and I don’t see a decision coming to encourage the mass gathering of such magnitude,” McIntyre said.
In January this year, before the occurrence of COVID-19 in Dominica, Marva Williams, the events coordinator at the Dominica Festivals Committee stated that the World Creole Festival for this year will hold a week earlier from October 23-25 instead of the usual Independence weekend. Following the insurgence of the pandemic in the country in May, Director of Tourism and CEO of Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), Colin Piper, hinted that the festival may likely be cancelled this year due to the pandemic.
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