The Ministry of Culture and Community Development has revealed that more than $170 million is still owed to stakeholders for Carnival this year.
In a release Wednesday, Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin stressed there will be no honeymoon period for the newly appointed Board of Commissioners of the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (NCC).
“As the country and world at large looks ahead to Carnival 2026, the Board has been called to undertake immediate and focused action to restore accountability, transparency, and trust. Minister Benjamin has mandated that the operational standards, lines of reporting, and the promotion of our cultural product is priority,” the release stated.
“This position follows troubling reports of financial improprieties surrounding the execution of Carnival 2025. Several key Carnival stakeholders have reported non-payment for their services, significantly disrupting their ability to meet financial obligations.
“Minister Benjamin has expressed serious concern over these developments, emphasising that under her watch, there will be no tolerance for financial mismanagement or delay.”
The release stated that financial records show that in April 2025 a $200 million loan was undertaken by NCC to pay bills in relation to Carnival 2025.
“However, it is to be noted that the full amount of the two hundred-million-dollar loan was in fact spent, but a balance of one hundred and seventy-eight million dollars is still owed to various stakeholders for goods and services provided for Carnival 2025,” the release added.
“The success of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival cannot and will not be derailed by poor administration,” Benjamin stated in the release. “We owe it to our stakeholders, our communities, and our culture to ensure that resources are used responsibly, transparently, and with maximum impact.”
The release stated that the Minister has summoned the Board of Commissioners to a meeting on Tuesday July 29, 2025. This session will place specific attention on:
– An Internal Audit is to be immediately conducted, reviewing the current state of NCC’s financials and holistic operations;
– The submission of a Report on the findings of the aforementioned audit, including solutions toward all issues identified, whether financial, logistical and/or operational;
– A plan to address the outstanding stakeholder payments for Carnival 2025; and
– Finalising the timelines and expectations for Carnival 2026.