By Val Matthias. Updated 12:50 p.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced an increase in its subvention to Vincy Mas, the nation’s flagship cultural festival. The disclosure was made by Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Creative Industries, Kaschaka Cupid, during the 2026 Budget Debate in Parliament.
Cupid framed the announcement as part of a wider push to position culture at the heart of national development.
“Carnival is not peripheral to development it is central to it,” he told parliament. “Investment in Vincy Mas is an investment in our people.”
While the exact amount of the increase was not disclosed, Cupid confirmed that the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) will receive a larger allocation this year compared to 2025.
The Minister described Vincy Mas as more than a festival, portraying it as a platform for musicians, designers, dancers, artisans, and community practitioners to showcase Vincentian identity. He stressed its role as an economic driver, generating employment for vendors, event planners, technicians, transport operators, and other service providers.
Cupid tied the increased funding to the government’s tourism strategy, noting that cultural expression is a critical component of the national tourism product. The move, he said, reflects recognition of carnival’s multiplier effect across industries, from creative arts to hospitality and transport.
The announcement comes as the ministry undergoes restructuring to prioritise youth and the “Orange Economy.” The 2026 budget allocates approximately EC$7.08 million 55% of the ministry’s expenditure to youth development initiatives, in line with the administration’s campaign promise to invest in young people. Cupid described the ministry’s new focus as “a bold shift toward innovation, athletic excellence, and cultural preservation as primary drivers of economic growth.”
This positions Vincy Mas not only as a cultural showcase but also as a strategic pillar in St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ economic and tourism agenda, with government signalling stronger support for the creative industries despite withholding the precise figure of the increase.
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