Ten­sions in the re­gion amid the im­passe be­tween the Unit­ed States and Venezuela, and Trinidad and To­ba­go’s in­volve­ment in the sit­u­a­tion, are rais­ing con­cerns among some for­eign vis­i­tors ahead of Car­ni­val 2026, says pro­mot­er Kwe­si “Hy­pa Hop­pa” Hop­kin­son.

His com­ments come days af­ter Min­is­ter of Cul­ture and Com­mu­ni­ty De­vel­op­ment Michelle Ben­jamin said 2026 was shap­ing up to be a “bumper” Car­ni­val, not­ing that ear­ly in­di­ca­tors point to in­creased par­tic­i­pa­tion and strong prepa­ra­tions for the up­com­ing sea­son.

How­ev­er, Hop­kin­son, who is al­so Scorch Lim­it­ed CEO and the pro­duc­er of Stink & Dut­ty 2026, said there could be a de­crease in for­eign­ers com­ing for Car­ni­val due to the es­ca­lat­ing ten­sions be­tween the US and Venezuela.