00:00So we are from Tindam. We just crossed 100 days to Tobago Carnival. October 18th is Blue Fruit Festival. We
00:08are entering into another very busy season. So it is upon us to again pull up our socks and start
00:14going forward into the next wave of festivals.
00:18And of course talks with Caribbean Airlines. Caribbean Airlines has been a conversation that continues and is very much alive.
00:27And we are going to see some new things coming out. So keep your eyes on those things to come
00:33in a very short future.
00:36Speaking with TV6 News at the Scarborough Esplanade following the close of the 39th Tobago Heritage Festival. Tobago Festival's Commission
00:46CEO Kern Cowan said preparations are already accelerating for Tobago Carnival 2026.
00:53But you're going to see some improvement in direct international flights, into more inter-island support. You're going to see
01:00those things coming up. So pay attention to those things. Don't miss Tobago this 2026.
01:07Reflecting on the significance of Emancipation Day, Cowan said true emancipation extends beyond celebration and include continued efforts toward empowerment.
01:20We still need to emancipation. We still need to emancipate ourselves in our minds. We need to let go of
01:25our slavery mentality that continues to trap us in terms of moving forward as a people. We need to stop
01:33the private and moral syndrome and start growing together and helping each other holding hands to succeed as an island,
01:42as a people. And those things match to our ability to become autonomous.
01:46With the 39th edition of Tobago Heritage Festival now complete, attention is already turning to next year's milestone 40th anniversary
01:58celebrations.
01:59Cowan says plans are being developed to make the festival larger and more impactful than ever before.
02:06It's going to be huge. We are targeting the diasporas in particular in Fortin. We are going big and bad
02:14in Fortin. We want to see all of Tobago involved and we are going to see the rollout in the
02:20next couple of weeks.
02:20We are going to make Fortin. We are going to make Fortin a major one and it's not going to
02:24just sporadically jump at you. It's going to be continuous. It's going to flow. And we want to be able
02:30to ensure that the traditions remain key. Note in everybody's mouth.
02:36The festival ended on a high note with a performance from a 2026 national Calypso monarch, Terry Lyons and her
02:45son, followed by a fireworks display at the Scarborough Esplanade. Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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