A children’s carnival funding warning from former SMAC president Darren van Ommeren is calling attention to groups that could be unable to participate in Carnival 73 because of high costs and limited sponsorship, 24ora reported on November 4.
Former president describes cost pressures
Van Ommeren said children’s groups have difficulty securing sponsors. He cited SETAR as an exception and appealed to other businesses, hotels, government and parents to support participation.
As an example of the financial burden, he said a band accompanying a group in three children’s parades could charge between Afl. 15,000 and Afl. 30,000. Those figures are his estimate, not a published standard fee or a budget for a named group.
Appeal focuses on future participants
He argued that support should help sustain full carnival participation rather than be limited to T-shirts. He also urged parents to encourage children’s involvement and described the school parade as an introduction to, rather than a substitute for, participation in children’s carnival groups.
The source does not identify a group that has formally cancelled or announce a cancelled parade. The warning concerns a risk of withdrawal and an appeal for support, not a confirmed cancellation.
Source: 24ora original report.
Image: Conceptual editorial illustration, not a photograph of the reported people, location or event.
