The Festival Commission will enforce a strict No-bottle Policy in Carnival City for the duration of the 2025 Carnival festivities.
That’s the word from Minister of Creative Industries, Daryll Matthew, speaking during a walk-though of the Carnival City venue last Thursday. That policy will be rigidly enforced by the Festival Commission with Director of the Commission, Petley O’Keiffe, and her team overseeing its enforcement.
Minister Matthew, who is also the country’s Minister of Sports, said the policy has to be enforced to protect the country’s reputation as the Antigua Recreation Grounds, where Carnival City is located, also serves as an international cricket practice facility.
“We cannot afford to have broken bottles anywhere on the playing area of the ARG including the pitch area as well as the outfield. Just imagine what would happen if during a practice game, a cricketer is hurt from a broken bottle on the field. As simple as that incident would be, it would receive wide international coverage and would do untold harm to the country’s reputation as a viable cricket venue with internationally acceptable practice facilities. We cannot afford for anything remotely like that to happen here. Consequently, we will institute a no-bottle policy in ARG/Carnival City for the entire carnival season, 2025,” he stated.
The Festival Commission will have marshals combing Carnival City during each event to ensure that vendors do not breach the policy.
Minister Matthew said any vendor caught violating the policy will have an immediate revocation of his/her permit to operate in Carnival City for the entire season.
The Festivals Commission Director O’Keiffe is advising all vendors to serve all beverages in plastic disposal glasses on all occasions to avoid any breaches with the policy.
Patrons are also advised not to accept any beverage that is not served in a plastic glass.
Adhering to the policy has much importance not only for Carnival 2025, but for the ARG’s reputation as an international cricket practice venue, now and in the future.
