Carnival Stakeholders receive payout for 2016

The new year is off to a bright start for some carnival stakeholders who were waiting to receive their monetary prizes for the 2016 summer festival.
Representatives of the pan and mas’ troupes received their pay packages yesterday during a brief ceremony held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
The biggest payout in the sum of $209, 560 went to the Antigua & Barbuda Pan Association for Panorama 2016.
Large Band of the Year winner Myst Carnival Inc received a grand prize of $35,000.
Festivals Minister EP Chet Greene said the majority of the monies owed to stakeholders have been paid and the government will continue the process until all the outstanding sums are eliminated.
“We are more than delighted to do this, taking into account we understand and appreciate the need for early planning for Carnival 2017 and we want to improve as we go further,” Greene said.
Head of the Pan Association, Patrick ‘Stone’ Johnson said the payout, though late in coming, is much welcomed.
“It would have been nice if the monies were paid sooner or even on the night of Panorama. Hopefully in 2017, we will put much work into developing the show and collecting the prize on the night or even sooner,” Johnson said.
Over $400,000 in prizes will also be distributed to members of the Mas’ Association and two private bands in the coming weeks.