Carnival is still Community: Spicemas 2026 social audit report

FINISHLINE COMMENTARY

Is de place quiet again? Great! It’s been a bit of Mayhem and Chaos.
We’ve been a bit too loud to really talk and listen to each other, so I’m grateful for the quiet, but I also understand why we’ve been so loud lately. More specifically why de Jab Jab has been so loud and Upset lately.

~Let’s start stretching, this will feel like a sprint but it’s a marathon under real Speed.~

Spicemas 2026 was exceptional! The tabanka is already setting in, but let’s not just look solely at the end results, let’s recap a bit.
 
I know I’ve been quiet, it’s because I’ve been having many meetings over the last year.
Over 100 lengthy meetings within Grenada and outside, ranging from conversations with random strangers to old friends, family, industry veterans, international artistes, promoters, designers, caregivers, coaches, farmers, fishermen, lawyers, the diaspora, tourists, peers, elders, youth, business owners, immigrants, jab jab and more. Many of these have been unprompted conversations, and I cannot deny that they have been difficult. A big part of why I have not been posting is because I’ve been noticing inconsistencies in some of what I’ve been hearing, and commonalities as well. However, it has been nostalgic for me of the many ‘reasonings’ I grew up around in The Center Shop and Foxy barbershop in La Borie, St. George, Grenada.

I’ve been outside as well to check the temperature – around many parts of Grenada, Carriacou, Union Island, Petite Martinique, Trinidad and Saint Lucia – ‘de place is hot and hard’, but a lot has been improving.

Remember when I said I wanted to gatekeep Spicemas back in The Energy of Spicemas 2024: Highlights and Insights review largely due to inadequate infrastructure?  Then repeating some of the same turbulences in the Destination Spicemas 2025 review?  Yeah – the infrastructure has been improving, it’s still imperfect but comparatively better.

This Year-end review is the combination of several draft posts over the last two years, that have spanned more than just carnival but community. Admittedly, I have been hesitant to post anything because of sensitivity and stakes involved. There have even been my own shadows I needed to face to realize the Boogeyman isn’t as bad as he sounds.

There has also been a lot of noise, ‘but not all noise in the market is sale!’ Everything on social media by Influencers isn’t real. Window shoppers and persons continuing to keep the Jab off the payroll cannot be the ones we listen to most. So, this is my contribution as a native, resident Jab Queen.  Lewwe Go!

RECAP!

Spicemas 2026 was officially launched by the Spicemas Corporation (SMC) back in early May 2026 and officially culminated on August 11th, 2026 (the season). We have seen multiple events during the season and can also appreciate that there has been much work prior to the launch. We have seen the installation of a new female CEO –Mrs. Teshia Noel-Grant, the 2nd female CEO in the 14-year history of SMC, with the inargural being Mrs. Jennifer Woodroffe.

During the season we saw Spicemas returning to the community – Soca and Groovy monarch Prelims were spread throughout the parishes, remnisant of the past and decentralizing carnival from just St. George’s. There has been a revitalization of steelpan and even the emergence of a new steelpan band in St. Mark in 2026 – the St. Mark’s All Stars (hopefully by 2027 sponsorship will be received). We’ve seen an additional improvement with the removal of admission costs for select events, such as prelims, to increase access for our locals not only our visitors. These were well attended!

While the return of Carnival City was short lived this year, hopefully in 2027 it returns with more emphasis on the street food and highlighting our local vendors – a Jab marketplace of sorts. This was another free-admission event.

There were numerous events in 2026, many new-comers and several returning ones; with lots of commentary on the prices of events. I do agree that events should be quoted in XCD firstly as the currency of the country, then USD for ease of conversion reference.  There has also been commentary on events being unaffordable for locals, however I attended a few free-admission events this season. I attended Jab Convention by Capital Jab on Pearl’s airstrip in St. Andrew, on 19th July 2026. Any Given Sunday by C4 promotions after securing one of a few limited free tickets on 26th July 2026. Then SMC’s Traditional Mas Festival in Victoria, St. Mark on 2nd August 2026, followed by River Road ‘Jump Up’, both of which were free. Theses all held diverse audiences. Outside of those, there were several other free/ low costs community events occurring weekly during the season also that somewhat negates that commentary.

We have seen many of our carnival stalwarts still-at-it in the music, mas, organization and general support of Spicemas. Commancheros & Associates was revived as a mas band this year, the masband that was my own introduction to mas.

We saw the Grenada Tourism Authority very active during the season, and the introduction of their ‘PLAY YUH MAS RIGHT’ campaign which was much needed and provided clear guidance to the general public including our locals and visitors on the acceptable standards for Spicemas.

We saw the Royal Grenada Police Force present and executing strategic logistics plans while maintaining their composure during the many events, including the tragic accidental deaths of visitors and locals during the season. This must be commended! In the same breath, condolences to the grieving families.

More importantly we saw community. Spicemas is a reunion of joy! We saw our Community Organizers, and many of our unsung heroes fitting in their own enjoyment of the season while supporting the influx on demand on the island. With all the social media buzz we definitely saw ourselves.

REFLECTIONS

We saw our challenges too. Several of which have already been identified in Motherland Investment needed into Caribbean Social Challenges, so they won’t be repeated here.

Spicemas is a major tourism product for Grenada, and the optics are well-managed, however the Jab Jab remains off the payroll, and revolting because while some have stayed and gained on the payroll, even well past their retirement age, others have been forced out with little pension to survive on, while cost of living continues to rise, resulting in so many of our Drinking Papis. ‘Not so they was!’

There are several rifts that we can see – persons who helped build the system were pushed out with no acknowledgement or gratuity. They trained “younger” staff with their institutional knowledge and got no compensation because they lacked qualifications or refused to ‘wuk for positions’. Meanwhile some newly qualified persons are eager and ready to support the capacity gaps in the country, after toiling to receive education under strenuous conditions, only to be under-utilized and under-paid.

There are lots of frustrations among the people. Nonetheless, to break old systems, we must build new ones, and ensure we’re building ethically, and on sound foundation. We’re breaking systems of oppression and exploitation – including the grooming and exploitation of women and children, and these take time and resistance.

 It is also so hard to keep telling a hungry child, that he got food yesterday (African proverb). Nevertheless, I will say this – New systems and communities are being built!

Greater awareness of necessary permits that would not hurt future horses reaching, so donkeys can reach too will need improving. Additional challenges that we will need to address sooner rather than later are:

• Sex tourism/ Horning season
• Gender based violence
• Sponsorship Monopolies
• Getting Jab on the payroll
• Balancing the continued sale of Grenadian land to non-native Grenadians
• Risk/ Liability Management

Now we walk back to the starting block, but not starting from scratch, we have even more experience.

MEDAL PRESENTATION: CARNIVAL COMMUNITY

Firstly, let us give thanks for another year of life, eyes to see the festivities, ears to hear the music, and bodies to move to the vibes. Gratitude is a must! In addition to highlighting, social challenges, our social strengths were emphasized in Motherland Investment needed into Caribbean Social Challenges of which Community and Joy were included.

Roots Man Kelly said back in 2016 – ‘let’s give people their flowers before they dead’. For those who we were unable to do that for may we also acknowledge them in death. We say Thank you to the steelpan pillars we have lost– Blast Pan Wizards – Michael ‘Blaze’ Robertson, IMA Rainbow City All-Stars – Othniel St. Clair, and Co-op Bank Commancheros – Dennis Phillip. To everyone who toiled over the years without being able to witness this year’s masterpiece including – Linda Straker, who for many years promoted the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organization for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc., so that our artistes can be paid for their music through copyright, we also say thank you.

We have lost some of our jab jab artistes including Earl ‘Synnah’ Edwards, some gettonas, and some members of our community. We lost some of our girls and older women including Alexandra Lett-Hypolite, Terrecheal Sebastian, and Melvar Wharwood tragically. Peace upon their souls, and continued comfort to their families, friends and communities. We do not wish to continue adding names to the list by tragic avoidable deaths.

Spicemas and Grenada have gone Global and the globe has been showing up. Our carnival community has therefore broadened. In 2026, there were Ghanaians, Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Cubans, Guyanese, Lucians, Vincentians (Vincy people), Trinidadians & Tobagonians (Trinis/ Southies), Barbadians (Bajans), Haitian (Zoe), Jamaicans (Yardies) , Surinamese, Martinicans, Dominicans (Bouyon people), Antiguans, Kitticians, US Virgin Islanders, Americans, Brits, as well as every Grenadian physically or otherwise. Our community extends remotely and hybrid with our Grenadian diaspora within the Caribbean region, where the only thing between is sea water and the wider world not only with persons of Grenadian heritage, but with supporters and well-wishers. We must also show our appreciation for the love with some global integration in our country. The same allyship we want, we must also give. Welcome to all the new Jab Family.

Now, ‘Wey de Jab Jab people and dem dey!’ Congratulations on an amazing Spicemas 2026!!!!! ‘Not everything that glitters, is gold!’ Gold must be tested, approved and trusted. Under harsh conditions, remaining consistent. Congratulations to all our Gold Winners!

The answer is still Love, not for the likes. Love is making a comeback. The Jabjab community and many contributors are still ensuring that carnival occurs while barely being compensated all these 35 years out of love.

Bacchannal Friday was absolute cinema! The collective performances were undoubtedly our BEST yet! Congratulations to all participants on a phenomenal show. Congratulations to our 2026 Power Soca Monarch – Snakey. What a performance!

To the Jab queens – special congratulations to all 7 contestants of the 2026 Queen Show Pageant – after reviewing Ricardo Keens-Douglas’ Queen show exhibition from 1945 to 1974 at the Grenada National Museum – I have a special appreciation for all our melanated queens over the years. Congratulations to our Ms. Grenada Carnival Queen 2026 – Ms. St. David – Camayah Telesford.

In 2026 particularly, a year that Gender-based violence (GBV) was no longer hidden and many of the public opinions exposed – protecting women and girls in particular was at the fore, and that includes our national queens, our 1st time Groovy queen – Sabrina Francis, our 2nd time female SMC CEO, and our entrepreneurial Jab Queens who have been putting Jab on the payroll. In particular Lavish Band Leader – Ebony Telesford and GoldenMas Band Leader – Areen ‘Golden’ Lewis for the biggest and prettiest bands on the road. Also, to everyone working hard to build wealth for their community, their family, friends, the common man or woman, getting Jab on the payroll – a special Thank you!

In the same breath I want to acknowledge the men and boys who have been very vocal and supportive of ending GBV. Just before the launch of Spicemas we saw our young winners advocate at Grenada Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (GAPSS) Intercol Championships. I cried long tears of pride, as a survivor myself, when I saw their activism. May our teachers, parents/ guardians, coaches, and community continue the wonderful job of shaping our future minds well. Appreciation to veteran artiste like General PP with his honest songs of heartbreak and acceptance rather than harm to woman, and Angeleau a younger artiste with witty messaging. Thank you also to the men who understood – ‘It is okay to okay!’; as advised by our Lucian brother.

Also shout-out to the Inside Crew, I love the name and that there are extended members of this crew who are inside until they Not Staying Home cause is Road for the season.

Spicemas – The Greatest Festival has done it again! Getting better and better each year. Wishing more Blessings in our Winning Season, on all the Jabaholics to be back in good health and strength in 2027.

Grenada, we see you, we hear you, we understand you, we love you, and we Honour you! Take a bow! Your soil keeps us grounded to traditions.

I feel like I don’t have enough words to describe the ecstasy of Carnival. And I’m not speaking about the lustful spirit; I mean the elevated energy. The collective joy that we emit during carnival. Spicemas 2026……..masterful!

It is no secret that I enjoy carnival, I travel for carnival and I’ve given carnival a bit of my heart some time now. I have always seen joy during carnival; it’s one of the best nostalgias for me.

No two carnivals are the same, but generally when I think of carnival my heart lights up. I’ve seen several angles of carnival, and one thing I can conclude is that Carnival is still community.

Let’s have some rest and some more recovery, healing and grieving as we must, before we start preparing for another season. May we continue to extend patience and grace with ourselves while holding accountability for our shortcomings, and in the same way may others extend patience and grace with us as we continue to grow.

Thanks eh, Muchas Gracias, Mèsi anpil, Danke schön, Xièxiè, Arigatō, Medaase pas!!!!

Really with Love from a Jab Queen and Girl’s girl,

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are independent and do not reflect the view of any other capacity of the author including places of employment or association. The views are unpolitically affiliated, and do not have political intentions.

AI was used solely for image generation of the featured image – all values included are fictional.

Reviewers: Pulling Every Thread Team