Dear Editor,
Let’s big up one of our own now. Very rarely on St. Maarten do you come across an individual who is so strong in his or her convictions, and believes in the collective ability of a team for the greater good of anything. Carnival on St. Maarten is blessed to have someone who always puts the festival first, fights for it and is unafraid to stand and take “blows” for unpopular, but necessary decisions. I mean this man is completely unafraid.
Of course, I am talking about SCDF’s president Mike Granger. I am a Carnival lover. Been that way for more than 30 years. I have seen where Carnival has come from. I have seen “modern-day presidents” lead the festival to the brink of destruction. But, this man right here is an anomaly. Nobody in their right mind, even those who offer different opinions about Carnival, can ignore the level to which Granger has brought this festival.
There was a time when it would have been unheard of for our Carnival to be mentioned in the same breath as Aruba, Curaçao and Trinidad. Now I dare say Aruba and Curaçao are looking up at us, and we are not very far behind Trinidad when it comes to the product we offer. Have you been paying attention to this man’s tenure? I have. Very closely too, because I love Carnival. I need to make sure the shepherd knows what he/she is doing. He is ever forward thinking; some might say calculating. Very smart and skilful in how he approaches challenges. A tactical thinker.
Needed regulating on children in the Village. Did that. Needed more protection for local bands. Did that. Broke the stigma and established the festival as safe all around. Did that.
Needed more help for pageantry. Outsourced that. Moving away from government for funding, embracing self-reliance. Doing that. Securing major creative financing with the private sector. Did that and still doing that. Made “branding” a household word on St. Maarten. Did that.
Needing to take Carnival global. Doing that impressively. Modernizing Carnival through social media, streaming, etc. Did that. Involved more stakeholders in key aspects of Carnival. Did that. Needing to run the festival like the business that it is. Did that.
Professionalizing Carnival operations. Doing that. Unwavering in enforcing Carnival rules and regulations. Absolutely doing that. Filling flights and hotels and extending St. Maarten high season. Definitely doing that. Travel deals with hotels and airlines: Did that
Most impressively, he is unselfish in his role. Listen to him speak. He always talks about involving everyone, about SCDF not being know-it-all’s, about needing everyone to do their part to make the festival work. All of the companies that work with SCDF are locally-run companies, by young St. Maarten entrepreneurs. All of them! Carnival is probably the only major event/company/enterprise that does not have the finger prints of special interests all over it.
Not the same names, not the same families, just local people. Perhaps this is why despite all the in-roads of Carnival, it still struggles here and there because the regular power-players can’t seem to find a way to get their hands on it. Do you realise that? Carnival does not involve the usual suspects, and this is a good thing! But still, when they can’t get their way, they have a problem with Carnival. But that’s okay. Keep Carnival in the hands of people who care. Don’t put it in the hands of people, who want to suck it dry, because all they see is dollar signs. Or people, who feel that they and their children should have the keys to everything on St. Maarten.
Finally, my compliments, Granger to your steadfast belief in rules and regulations. You possess the intelligence to realize that if you compromise your own regulations, your entire organization loses credibility. I do not envy you. In Carnival you get to deal with every type of personality on God’s good earth. But you stand there and you keep going. I don’t know how you do it, or how your family tolerates it. But my message to you is to stay steadfast. Whenever your tenure is over, you will not only be a great loss to Carnival, but you will be regarded as one of, if not the greatest president in the history of the festival.
Steadfast Mike, steadfast!
Your old school mate DRG
