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Government has earmarked areas within the Queen’s Park Savannah (QPS) and facilities in Chaguaramas as alternative sites for Carnival 2026 events, following a sweeping ban on fetes at major public sporting facilities. The revelation came the sitting of the House of Representatives on November 21, as ministers faced a series of urgent questions on the impact of the ban on the multi billion-dollar Carnival and entertainment industry.

The ban on stadium fetes sparked fresh tensions during the sitting as Diego Martin West MP Hans Des Vignes pressed Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin for clarity on how government intends to mitigate fallout from the decision, which restricts Carnival-related events at key national venues.

The ban, first imposed on the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in the south, was widened by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to include the Hasely Crawford Stadium and the Jean Pierre Complex – two of the country’s most heavily used Carnival spaces in Port of Spain. Promoters have warned that the move threatens the survival of their industry, a vital tourism driver and foreign-exchange earner.