By Linda Straker Despite the challenges of recovering from the devastating effects of two hurricanes within ten months, plans are well in place for the staging of carnival 2005, Grenada’s biggest tourist summer attraction. With a serious shortage in revenue collection and most of the donor funding being directed to housing and construction sectors, the government had decided to cutback its subvention towards carnival, which has resulted to stakeholders developing creative ideas that will result in a unique and exceptional final product for 2005. In previous attempts, the festival would has had a limited sponsorship from various corporations. This year, however, the organizing committee embarked on marketing campaign which has so far resulted in a telecommunication company being awarded the gold sponsor of the event. Cable and Wireless Grenada, last Friday presented its gold sponsor check of EC$150,000 to the deputy chairperson of the Grenada Cultural Foundation, Elizabeth Greenidge. Referring to the gesture as partnership with the Grenada Carnival Committee to ensure that the celebrations continues, Cable and Wireless Grenada’s Retail Service vice president Anselm Mathurine said that despite the hardship resulted from hurricane Ivan in September 2004 and Emily in July 2005, cultural activities must go as a way of coping with stress and so that people will deal with the two recent natural disasters. He also disclosed that this year is first of a three-year agreement that will result in Cable and Wireless being named the gold partner in the carnival celebrations. Most of the money will be used to pay prize money. Other companies are expected to joining the list within the coming week said office manager Dexter Mitchell. With the theme “Carnival is alive in 2005” as its guiding principle, the two-week celebration begins on July 29 with the soca monarch festival and ends on August 9 with a parade of the carnival bands and last lap merriment on the streets, in discos and clubs. Fifteen of the top soca artistes will be selected to compete in the final. Saturday, July 30, will be the Coca Cola Children’s Carnival Frolic – it’s a time for children to participate and enjoy in the celebrations. The Calypso semifinal will be on Sunday, July 31. All events will be held at the Tanteen Netball Court, a venue that can accommodate 3500- 1500 sitting and 2000 standing. The carnival celebration moves into high gear on August 5 with the finals of the soca monarch at the outdoor Quarantine Point; then back to the Tanteen for the Panorama on August 6. The final for the calypso competition will be held on August 7 and the pageant and parade of the bands will be held on August 8 and 9. Reprinted from travelvideo.tv