The Functions of the Carnival Development Corporation are as follows:

• Creating adequate sub-committees which shall be responsible for producing carnival shows under the auspices of the corporation;


• Co-ordinating all the carnival activities;


• Developing and implementing marketing strategies for the promotion of the carnival and other festival;


• Securing financial and other sponsorship for the carnival;


• Acting as the co-ordinating and facilitating body for the carnival activities;


• Preparing and issuing guidelines for the organisation of and participating in the various carnival shows;


• Organising competitive shows within the carnival season;


• Preparing an annual budget that must be submitted to the Minister for approval;


• Providing prize monies to the persons entitled to such;


• Consulting with the various components of the carnival in order to improve the content of shows;


• Approving the material contents of calypso and pageant shows in order to ensure compliance with the laws of the State;


• Preparing and enforcing rules governing the participation in and judge of shows which shall be issued to the relevant persons prior to the finalisation of the programme to which they relate;


• Ensuring that each component of the carnival submit a list of names of judges who may be requested to perform their duties;


• Collecting scores and ensuring that results are promptly released;


• Ensuring that the components of carnival are allowed to conduct their internal affairs without interference, save and except that where irreconcilable differences arise within and between any components of carnival, the corporation shall have the authority to make final determinations in order to safeguard the integrity of the carnival festivity;


• Submitting quarterly reports to the Minister;


• Assisting the pan, calypso and mass component of the carnival with organising their activities.

The chairman of Pankimas, Mr. Hugh Ragguette, told the Vincentian that efforts to organise the festival began in the early 20th Century, with the Colonial Administrator organising competitions among the bands. On Carnival Tuesday the bands appeared before him and his guests at Government House. The merchants in and around Kingstown organised a separate competition, which the bands attended after appearing at Government House.

With the coming of Adult Suffrage, Vincentians were able to elect representatives of the Legislative Council. The people’s representatives began to regard Carnival as a festival that merited their attention and allocated resources towards its development. At the time, the festival was organised by the Town Board.

A New era began in 1962 when the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) took over the organisation and conduct of the festival. They made a significant contribution during the following decade. The festival developed in such scope and magnitude that the Jaycees asked the Government of the day to set up a structure to organise the festival.

Thus in the 1970's the then Minister of Education, Community Development and Youth Affairs, Alfonso Dennie, met with key players and formed the Carnival Development Committee (CDC). It became a legal entity through an Act of Parliament early 2002. The institution has been re-named Carnival Development Corporation.

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