May 7, 2001 – Source readers would like to see more emphasis placed on the cultural aspects of Carnival, less on drinking and partying, according to a recent Source poll.
In answer to the question how could Carnival be improved, the second most popular preference of poll respondents was to promote Carnival more heavily to
bring visitors to the island for the annual event.
In third place, was move Carnival Village to the Crown Bay landfill – something which has been considered due to the serious parking problems in Charlotte Amalie created by building the village in the Fort Christian parking lot, effectively shutting down the lot for two to three weeks every year.
Few respondents, a paltry 3 percent, thought children's activities should start earlier or not be held on school nights, but 12 percent thought children should be dressed like children, not like adults.
Seventeen percent of readers thought the venue should alternate between St. Thomas and St. Croix. Most of them, not surprisingly, voted on St. Croix Source.
Finally, 11 percent of readers did not think Carnival needed to be improved.
Here are the results:
The Source wants to know how Carnival can be improved. What is the most
important change that could be made to improve Carnival?
1. Move Carnival Village to the Crown Bay landfill.
STT (52) STX (10) STJ (1); Total (63) 17 percent
2. Alternate Carnival between St. Thomas and St. Croix.
STT (22) STX (28) STJ (0); Total (50) 13 percent
3. Carnival should be promoted more heavily to attract visitors to the
V.I.
STT (57) STX (17) STJ (1); Total (75) 20 percent
4. More emphasis should be placed on the cultural aspects and less on
the social aspects, i.e. drinking and late-night partying.
STT (62) STX (20) STJ (4); Total (86) 24 percent
5. Children's activities should start earlier, or should not be held on
school nights.
STT (9) STX (2) STJ (0); Total (43) 12 percent
6. Children on display should be dressed like children, not copies of adults.
STT (24) STX (19) STJ (0); Total (43) 12 percent
7. Carnival does not need any improvement. It is fine just as it is.
STT (27) STX (11) STJ (1); Total (39) 11 percent
This is not intended to be a scientific poll. But we feel that, as a rough gauge of how Source readers feel about issues confronting the territory, the results are interesting and worth considering. And we hope that you will consider voting in this week's poll and those to come.
