Panorama will be replaced by pan show and special tribute to ailing pannists, Babu and Batchelor, Cabinet Notes report

Many residents are disappointed that the Panorama competition will not be staged this year after a COVID-imposed absence of Carnival these past two years. However, a pan show is slated to replace the much-anticipated event.

On Wednesday, June 8, stakeholders and several experts from the Ministry of Creative Industries reportedly held discussions with the Cabinet and presented their programmes for the July 24 to August 2 festival.

Cabinet Notes report that the replacement pan show is expected to feature all the steel bands, which will perform on the Sunday night before Jou’vert at Carnival City.

“There will be pand’garden, pand’culture, pand’road, pand’mix, and the School Panorama,” this week’s Notes say.

Additionally, a special event to celebrate two ailing pannists –Victor “Babu” Samuel and Devon Batchelor – will also form part of the Carnival celebrations.

Meanwhile, the parade of troupes and groups will not cross the stage this year. It is expected that the Monday and Tuesday parades will travel up Factory Road to the Sir Vivian Richards Ground.

In the meantime, the dismantling of the historic Double Decker Stand is supposed to commence next week, since the food vendors who plied their trade beneath the stand for years have been relocated.

According to the Notes, preparations for Carnival City – including construction of the stage; cleaning of the stands and grounds; and lighting and security – will commence shortly.

Over on the sister-island, the just-concluded Caribana 2022 has been deemed a success. Reportedly, many Antiguans travelled to Barbuda to enjoy the festivities at Caribana City and on the beach, as well as horse races and a Calypso Melting Pot.