As Toronto Carnival bandleaders start launching their 2019 mas’ presentations, the Caribana Arts Group (CAG)  has renewed it call for membership as well as for greater community and youth engagement.

In a news release, issued this week, the CAG, noting its priorities, stated that “a strong and stable organization is evidenced by its membership.”

It also states that “building partnerships and alliances is key” and that ” a vision for the future is not possible  without youth engagement.”

Reclaiming Caribana remains a major objective of the CAG.

But as Geraldine Stafford, the recently elected chairman of the CAG, noted in the  news release, “before a reclamation discussion or mandate can ever be realised, certain housekeeping items must be in place.”

She explains that the CAG needs the confidence of its membership, community and Caribana stakeholders to achieve any  mandate and that under her leadership it’s time for to CAG continue, and in some cases, start the conversation.

” Change will be inevitable and CAG will be undoubtedly be measured on its malleability, reaction and response,” she said.

” Not lost in the discussion is the matter of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival itself,” she noted.

Stafford pointed out that this matter “has taken more than a decade to arrive at the juncture it is today.

“ And it is unreasonable to speak to such an extremely multi- faceted matter and in some respects a matter that would alter the historical narrative, without a full evaluation of the challenges and opportunities at hand.”

Asked about a “coming together” of the CAG and FMC which now runs the Toronto Caribbean carnival, Stafford said ” what I can tell you for certain is that between 2006 and today, despite the changing face of the festival, two constants are the FMC and CAG.

“I don’t know what final engagement will look like at this point, but I intend to extend an invitation to Mr. Joe Halstead, chairman of the FMC,  for the initial engagement with myself as the CAG Chair”.

Stafford told the Caribbean Camera that she hope to meet with Halstead later this month.

She said that in the meantime,  she is also focused on getting to know the stakeholders of the 2019 Toronto carnival.

“The Board and membership will be supporting the mas’ band launches, leaders and related activities over the next few months.”

She also announced that in keeping with its plans for greater community engagement, the CAG will hold a public meeting in July.