PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of VSA Omar Ottley in response to questions from SMN News regarding Carnival 2022 on St. Maarten said there is no need to cancel the carnival for 2022. Ottley said while St. Maarten is preparing to return to normalcy by May 2022, carnival can still take place with the set guidelines that are in place.
Currently, St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SMCDF) is busy with its planning and preparation even though the foundation knows that things are subject to change based on the health situation on the island.
Ottley said he sees no reason to cancel the carnival at the moment and it does have his approval with the protocols that were put in place by SCDF. The Minister said since Omicron was detected on St. Maarten adjustments were made to the protocols that must get his approval. He said these protocols are being looked over by the team at VSA who will then tighten the loose ends if the need arises.
The Minister further explained that St. Maarten was the first to announce that the island will have its annual carnival in 2022, since then Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica made their announcement using the same guidelines as St. Maarten. Ottley said St. Maarten is the trendsetter when it comes to reopening because St. Maarten made the announcement several other islands fall suit using the same guidelines as St. Maarten.
The Minister of Health said St. Maarten is busy preparing its people on how to live with the coronavirus in the event of another resurgence. People already know what they have to do, they do not need the government to tell them to wear their masks or stay home if they are infected.
