Carnival: necessary debate

Carnival 2016 has been intense. In many senses of the word. As usual in this festivity, we experienced all the passion and and brilliance embodied in the event, but also with an undercurrent of anxiety and controversy over the new route of the parades of Debauchery and Extermination. The debate gave rise to initiate an urgent debate: which model of Carnival we want? 

The controversy over the route of the parades is urging us to study and analyze the best circuits. But at the same time, also on other issues related with Carnival that might need a thourough analysis in search of new approaches. This year 2016, in which the Councillor for Culture and Celebrations, Rosa Tubau and the President of the Commission, Carlos Garcia, were able to manage the Carnival in a brilliant manner despite evident and unrealized difficulties, has helped us to put on the table a series of aspects that need to be analyzed.

The current Carnival is a model developed 40 years ago. At the end of the dictatorship, Sitges showed its passion for Carnivals by launching the first street  floats in 1976. Floats were forbidden by Franco, but were tolerated inside our social organizations, were residents lived a Carnival that they refused to forget). During this time, the Carnival has grown significantly, has added new events and, above all, has added more people, both in the organization and participation, making it a highly popular festival driven by groups and organizations. But, however, the framework of Carnival has not changed since our democratic transition. It has become bigger, much bigger, but on the same model. We must analyze and discuss over the whole issue, we must take the right decisions together.

We must ask ourselves about the route of the parades -but assuming an essential and unavoidable element which is the prevention and security, we can not put it into risk. We must discuss and analyze the number of floats on the streets, the maximum duration of the parade,  limits to participation and behaviours during parades, we must also discuss about the constant presence of alcohol on the parades, television coverage and we must also examine what is the real sense of the existance of our Carnival. The debate on the Carnival is necessary and ugent.

For this reason, as I promised at the Ash Wednesday's "Xatonada" at El Retiro, in a short time we will open a discussion with organizations, groups, security forces and all the agents directly involved in the festivity to analyze and tackle all the necessary changes. Humbly but resolutely. We love the Carnival and we can not look the other way when there are issues that we must face with determination.

Debauchery and "festa", but safety above all

We are ready. With the much awaited "Arribo", tomorrow will mark the beginning of Carnival, one of the most magical moments of our calendar of festivities. Carnival 2016 comes with the usual expectation, which is to add almost unprecedented spring weather and the introduction of necessary prevention measures for a safer holiday.

The most discussed measure, as you know, has been the change of the route of the parades of Debauchery and Extermination. Parades maintain their route through the streets of the town center, but with a modified route for safety reasons. The various security forces involved in the prevention and security of our Carnival, repeatedly warned about of the risks posed by maintaining regular routes, a very wise warning. This change was necessary but now is essential to maintain basic measures of prevention and safety. The new protocols on prevention, added to common sense and safety policies, advised the organization to fully implement this modification change.

All changes in our festivities have to be "cooked over low heat" but without any pause. Three years have passed since it was decided to advance the schedule of parades, including the Children's Parade, Debauchery Parade and Extermination Parade. The first change generated certain rejection among some of the most directly involved in organizing the event, but once modifications were implemented in the Carnival, the evaluations were positive and three years later are entirely consolidated and almost no one misses late schedules anymore.

Last Friday, we held the meeting of the Local Security Board and we set the operating system that will assume the Carnival in this area. The high turnout, the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people and the implementation of existing protocols on prevention and safety, invite us to implement security measures that make our Carnival safer for everyone, without altering participation, openness and attraction. And for this purpose the role of the various security forces working full time is essential (Local Police, Autonomous Police, Fire Brigade, Civil Defense, Red Cross Emergency Medical Service ...). I want to take advantage of these lines to thank and encourage all to do their job. If the festivity is and will be a success in the future, their main actors are the Commission, organizations, groups and various teams involved in the Carnival and their constant work. 

Now, it is time to enjoy our Carnival. The best Carnival.