With just over three months to go until the end of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic showing dismal signs of disappearing in the short term, Jamaica will forgo Carnival celebrations until 2021. 

The announcement was made by the country’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, on Friday. 

The festival, which was originally scheduled to take place in April 19 of this year, had initially been postponed to October 25. 

It will now take place on April 11th, 2021.

“As the country enters the community transmission phase of the COVID-19 virus, we strongly believe it is in the best interest of our people, to forego hosting our annual carnival celebrations for this year,” Minister Bartlett said.

The decision was met with agreement from stakeholders within the industry. 

“Based on all of the professional healthcare advice, taking into account that carnival is not only a local but also an international tourism entertainment product, we have no choice but to reschedule the staging of our Carnival in Jamaica Road Parade from October 25th, 2020 to April 11th, 2021.  This will allow us the time to do what we need to do to have a safe and enjoyable Carnival in 2021,” said Chairman of the Carnival in Jamaica stakeholders committee, Kamal Bankay.