PHILIPSBURG--It was a festive sphere on Friday evening when President of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) honoured former President of SCDF Erno Labega, reveller Cleo Carti and long-time corporate partner Scotiabank as Carnival 2016 honourees. The event took place at Sheer Restaurant in Philipsburg keeping with a tradition that started four years ago to recognize the contributions of individuals and companies that have been invaluable to the development of Carnival.
“Carnival belongs to the people and these three have gone beyond to make sure Carnival continues in a positive trend. There is a huge pool of stakeholders we choose from every year. There is never a wrong or right choice, because we know that everyone instantly recognizes that the contributions of those selected are more than deserving of recognition,” Director and President of St. Maarten Carnival Mike Granger said to a room full of his board members, family members and supporters, including the honourees. Charles Thomas and some staff members of Scotiabank represented the bank.
Granger went on to describe Labega as the consummate Carnival lover, who “we keep pulling back in.” Labega is one of the longest-serving presidents SCDF has had, starting direct involvement with the foundation in the 90s and continuing for the next decade and a half in various functions. He, along with Granger, were called back into service in 2010, after some of the most tumultuous years for Carnival on St. Maarten. He was immediately appointed as treasurer with the task of getting SCDF out of debt that approached US $300,000. When he left the foundation after Carnival 2014, SCDF boasted an improved situation financially, buoyed on the involvement of new corporate partners secured by Labega.
“Erno is a Carnival lover through and through. Whenever he thinks he is out completely, we call him for something, be it advice or his influence. Carnival is in his blood, so he is always there to help and his contributions over the years cannot all be adequately summarized. He is more than deserving of this honour,” Granger said.
Cleo Carti has been called by many as the Queen of the Road. She has been an individual reveller for over a decade, and her elaborate costumes have been published in numerous destination and tourism magazines the world over. She is also described as a Carnival ambassador, usually taking it upon herself to promote St. Maarten Carnival whenever and wherever she could. On the road she is the centre of attraction for tourists, who take pictures with her along the parade route.
“Most importantly, Cleo is dedicated to our festival, always with a word of advice, always making the best of our fete. She understands that not everything will always be perfect and her Carnival spirit always overcomes. That is what we love and admire the most, her Carnival spirit and love for this island’s culture. This recognition is long overdue,” Granger said.
SCDF has also chosen to honour Scotiabank this year, only the second time since it started honouring stakeholders, that a company has been chosen. The first was ILTT. In honouring Scotia, the foundation recognizes the contributions the bank has made to Carnival for well over two decades. Scotia makes the popular Carnival calendar possible, the uniforms for the foundation members and other intangibles that are unseen by the public, but wholly appreciated by the foundation.
“Scotia is our main banking partner and a dependable and dedicated corporate sponsor. The relationship between the foundation and Scotia is a solid one. It is one of the three corporate sponsors that the foundation has maintained for so many years. The cooperation and understanding for Carnival by bank personnel and management cannot be measured,” Granger said.
Labega in his appreciation spoke about his time in the committee and wanted to see more young people join the organization. “I have to thank Keith Franca for being here, if it wasn’t for him I would have never been in the foundation. He taught me everything I know about Carnival, for that I thank you. There is nothing like negotiating with a promoter or taking blows from calypso artists. No education in the world can prepare you to deal with the hurdles of our Carnival,” concluded Labega in his speech.
