Shorter Trinidad and Tobago Carnival from 2020?

The National Security Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago is looking into having earlier cutoff times for Carnival festivities to ensure the safety and security of citizens.

The suggestion to have an earlier conclusion of Carnival Tuesday festivities follows a decision by Police Commissioner Gary Griffith to order the premature end of this year’s recently concluded celebrations along Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, Port of Spain due to security concerns.

Speaking at the Post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, National Security Minister Stuart Young said following discussions with security heads, a shorter proclamation for Carnival to 9 pm on Carnival Tuesday night.

There is no need in our deliberations and in our consideration of national security for the proclamation of Carnival to go all the way until midnight.

Young assured that no one would lose out and stakeholders will be engaged on the matter.

The Minister noted that other countries with festivities similar to Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival do not have extended periods of operations

He said the earlier end to festivities would ease traffic congestion in addition to ensuring the safety and security of all, as criminal activities tend to be carried out during the final three hours of Carnival.

“Even though we had a very safe, secure and successful Carnival from a national security point of view, we are not resting on our laurels or patting ourselves on the back. Immediately we engaged in a post mortem and we’ve begun to look at areas of improvement."