Grenada to stage Spicemas this year

The Grenada government says it will allow for a blended approach of in-person participation and virtual involvement, as it announced the resumption of carnival activities that had been suspended over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Culture, Yolande Bain-Horsford said the celebrations will now take place on Aug. 8 and 9.

“I am happy that Spicemas 2022 will be on Aug. 8 and 9, 2022,” she told a press conference last week.

She said Spicemas 2022 will take on a blended approach with in-house and virtual audiences, adding that there will be heavy emphasis on preserving the culture and mitigating risk.

The minister said the COVID-19 protocol will be in place, in accordance with the national policy.

Bain-Horsford said the government has been very concerned about the economic, social and psycho-social implications not having carnival has had on people and if not held for a third year, there can be further implications.

She explained the Spicemas Corporation (SMC), the body for administering and managing carnival, was mandated to explore the possibility of having a carnival this year, being mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The news of Spicemas 2022 came hours after the government confirmed that the sister isle of Carriacou will be having its carnival celebrations ahead of the national Lenten period, which started on Wednesday.