IF by some miracle, there is a Carnival 2022, one band has already decided it will not be there.
The popular medium band and Band of the Year winner K2K Alliance and Partners posted on its Facebook page on May 3 that it would not be on the road come 2022, but urged its followers and masqueraders to stay together in spirit and love.In a more elaborate response to Newsday, Karen and Kathy Norman, the bandleaders and designers of K2K, said three key considerations prompted their decision, even if the government approves the festival. Those considerations were health concerns, K2K's business model and personal factors, they said in e-mailed responses. "The pandemic has created a dramatically different environment from two years ago. Although the vaccine is being administered and there is heightened eagerness for things to return to normal, the pandemic is a very real global issue, one which management takes very seriously.
"On a personal level, we have experienced loss due to covid19. As such, management understands first-hand, the impact of the pandemic from both a business standpoint and a personal level. We believe that management has a responsibility to our K2K family, as well as the global community," the Normans said. The Normans also asked themselves several questions in coming to their decision, among them:
[caption id="attachment_890875" align="alignnone" width="683"] Karen and Kathy Norman, the bandleaders and designers of K2K says their band will not be on the road come Carnival 2022 if there is a physical one. -[/caption]
"What measures does TT have in place currently to ensure that locals are protected, and will there be enough measures in place, to ensure that locals are additionally protected from the international influx at Carnival?"What measures are in place to protect internationals?"Would non-vaccinated nationals and non-vaccinated internationals be allowed to enter TT during the Carnival festivities?
"And are there mechanisms in place to ensure that that vaccination information when/if presented at TT’s borders is legitimate and accurate?" They said while the physical festival is a major form of tourism and generates additional revenue for companies and individuals, it should not supersede the value of human capital. The Normans added that while the band is eager to return to the road, it does not want to do so without the right mechanisms in place to protect people. The band said it is now looking forward to 2023 and beyond. The pandemic is a health crisis with severe economic ramifications for the world and the Carnival landscape is not exempt from it, the Normans said. It also changed consumer behaviour and commercial activity and hence K2K's business model would continue to evolve as the global economy rebounds and, in some instances, dips, they said. The Normans said they will be clinical in assessing the business and remained committed to taking the strategic decisions needed to best serve their clients. For the sisters, Carnival is an evolution and change is inevitable. "While we
