Several bandleaders are challenging Prime Minister Dr Rowley’s comments about foreign exchange being wasted on the importation of Carnival costumes, saying the truth of the industry is that it is just too expensive to make mas with locally sourced raw materials.
Speaking on Tuesday at the sod-turning ceremony for Nutrimix’s Animal Feed and Pet Food plant in Point Lisas, Rowley emphasised that costumes should be locally sourced, noting the importation of costumes was draining the country of much-needed forex.
However, Exousia Mas leader Colin Providence says while he agrees with Dr Rowley’s suggestion about supporting local, he felt the Prime Minister did not have the relevant knowledge of what’s happening in the industry.
“Locally, we cannot compete with the prices for finished goods coming out of China, the large bands capitalise on this. At the end of the day, it’s about economics. You purchase where you get a better price,” Providence said.
He explained that bandleaders spent about 50 to 100 per cent more to produce costumes locally.
Noting that costumes in his band, Oceania, range from $3,500-$8,000 this year, he said, “Smaller bands, however, are usually left with no choice as they are unable to take advantage of economies of scale.”
According to Providence, the Chinese also make it easy and easier to access their services, as they are now doing fully completed costumes, including feather work, which was previously only done locally.
“If this continues, in a very short time all local input into the craft of costume making will be imported,” he said.
Providence said more incentives must be given to bands who produce locally to offset the costs.
“Lastly, the PM should also be aware that many carnival bands bring in much-needed foreign currency, as masqueraders from abroad settle their balances in US dollars,” he said.
The owner of medium band Mardi Gras TT, which creates its costumes solely from local material, confirmed it would be cheaper if they purchase the material internationally but noted their last-minute customers do not allow for that.
“It would be cheaper by far,” Miguel Baptiste said.
He said their 1,000-1,500 patrons confirm just weeks before Carnival, so it’s difficult to purchase in bulk. Baptiste said they get their materials for the costumes from Samaroo’s Carnival Store and Jimmy Aboud.
Another mas band that acquires material locally is Kinetic Mas. Leader Ann Marie Placide said there is a lot of access to material in T&T and many foreigners buy their materials at Jimmy Aboud, Yufe’s and other stores to take back home.
Placide, whose prices range from $1,300 and $5,000, said their costumes are not made from bikinis, feathers, or beads but more clothes.
“Yes, you can get really cheap things in China but our belief is that when you put them for two days on the road ... that same Chinese thing will not last two days on the road,” she said.
“We like to see our things come alive,” she added.
However, she admitted that one year they had to import their silks but only because they could not be purchased here.
“Normally, once we can get whatever we need here we buy it here,” she said.
Also contacted on the issue, YUMA Vibe and Ronnie and Caro Mas Band declined to comment on the PM’s statement.
But bandleader Ronnie McIntosh said mas bands also provide job opportunities in the factories and on the road. McIntosh added that the majority of local services (transportation, accommodation) are also fully booked during this period.
“Sales in water, sales in alcohol, sales in juice, sales, sales, sales, carnival time,” he stated.
Guardian Media also reached out to SPIRIT Mas, K2K Alliance, Showtime and Tribe for a comment but none of them had responded up to press time.
