Watson Duke Questions Canceled Roxborough Carnival Events

March 5, 2025 – Watson Duke, Political Leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), wants to know why events such as the Parade of Bands and Night Mas were canceled in Roxborough on Carnival Monday. Duke stated that Roxborough has hosted its own carnival activities since the end of World War I, and he believes it is a travesty that the current administration allowed this tradition to fade away.

Duke stated that when questions were raised, he received no answers. As a result, he is preparing to pose the question at the next Plenary sitting in the Assembly Legislature to get a response from the Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities, and Transportation, Tashia Burris. Duke was also critical of the minimal financial support provided to bands participating in this year’s carnival, and he called on the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to do better in ensuring that traditional carnival survives. Meanwhile, Duke announced his intention to contest the Tobago East seat in the upcoming general elections and promised to address the issues plaguing Tobago’s carnival. While he did not reveal the PDP’s candidate for Tobago West, he hinted that it would be a surprise and would be announced when the time is right.