{"id":267683,"date":"2026-02-20T06:37:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=267683"},"modified":"2026-02-20T06:37:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:37:26","slug":"minister-says-carnival-payments-ongoing-calls-for-funding-reform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/minister-says-carnival-payments-ongoing-calls-for-funding-reform\/","title":{"rendered":"Minister Says Carnival Payments Ongoing, Calls for Funding Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Concerns over outstanding payments to Carnival vendors surfaced during the question-and-answer segment of the Antigua Carnival 2026 media launch, prompting Education, Sports and Creative Industries Minister Daryll Matthew to acknowledge that some service providers are still awaiting funds.<\/p>

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Responding to questions from journalists, Matthew said the issue extends beyond individual invoices and reflects broader challenges in how Carnival is financed .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe owe several persons,\u201d Matthew said, while adding that payments are ongoing .<\/p>

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He explained that staging Carnival requires millions of dollars in marketing, production, support for competitions and assistance to promoters and cultural groups . However, he noted that while the festival generates increased visitor arrivals, expanded airlift and higher hotel occupancy, the Festivals Commission does not directly receive revenue from those gains .<\/p>

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Matthew called for what he described as a \u201cvery honest conversation\u201d about Carnival financing, including who benefits economically from the event and how those sectors contribute to its sustainability .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He specifically urged the hotel sector to provide greater support, arguing that hotels are among the primary beneficiaries of increased summer arrivals during the Carnival period .<\/p>

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The minister also confirmed that government has invested in purchasing certain production equipment to reduce long-term costs, saying the move is intended to provide better value for taxpayers while maintaining the quality of the festival .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the funding pressures, Matthew said the government remains committed to meeting its obligations and delivering a successful Carnival 2026 season, which is scheduled to run from July 25 to August 4 .<\/p>

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The exchange highlighted the financial complexities behind staging what officials describe as the country\u2019s largest cultural event, even as organizers push forward with expanded programming and international marketing for 2026 .<\/p>

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\"\"<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Concerns over outstanding payments to Carnival vendors surfaced during the question-and-answer segment of the Antigua Carnival 2026 media launch, prompting Education, Sports and Creative Industries Minister Daryll Matthew to acknowledge that some service providers are still awaiting funds. 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