The government of Trinidad and Tobago announced Tuesday the distribution of $9.7 million to regional Carnival committees with the aim of transforming the country’s famous bash into a year-round generator of tourism revenue, The Latin American Herald Tribune reports.

The National Carnival Commission has distributed the money to the regional committees with the hope that there could be at least one event per month, the minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Lincoln Douglas, said in a statement.

“Moving from a festival to an industry is what we’re about. We’re putting all the processes in place. The production, the artistry, distribution, copyright and intellectual property rights, so that we can move from not only a festival but into an industry,” Douglas said.

The NCC’s chairperson, Lorraine Pouchet, told representatives of the regional committees that the $9.7 million in intended to “go some distance toward offsetting the costs you incur in making regional Carnival a reality.”

“The NCC will continue to work with the regional Carnival committees, as together, we strive to make Carnival more than simply a once-a-year festival. Carnival is one of our country’s most sustainable businesses,” Pouchet said.

Trinidad and Tobago’s February Carnival is the best known in the Caribbean. Each year, thousands of people come to the twin-island nation to enjoy a mix of calypso, soca and other regional rhythms.

For the original report go to http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2367442&CategoryId=14092