The Division of Culture laments the route adjustment for Ole Mas Festival this year

In a decisive move prioritizing public welfare, organizers of Dominica’s highly anticipated Ole Mas Festival implemented significant route modifications due to adverse weather conditions. The Commonwealth of Dominica Division of Culture announced the eleventh-hour changes with what it described as “a heavy heart,” emphasizing that participant safety ultimately superseded traditional arrangements.

The revised itinerary abandoned the originally planned commencement at Layou’s entrance, instead initiating proceedings at Kalleb Laurent Primary School with procession routes navigating through St. Joseph’s community. This strategic adjustment eliminated the culturally significant traversal along Layou’s link road on the Bayside, a segment particularly vulnerable to weather-related hazards.

Chief Cultural Officer Earlson Matthew, addressing journalists during Thursday’s press conference, articulated the administration’s philosophical approach to cultural preservation. “We intentionally target communities to revitalize cultural practices,” Matthew explained, referencing prior successful interventions in Bath Estate. “Saint Joseph represents one of our few communities where traditional carnival practices remain vigorously alive, and we seek to amplify this cultural resilience.”

The dawn event, commencing at 4:00 AM on Saturday, featured numerous traditional groups embodying Dominica’s authentic carnival heritage. Matthew previously characterized the festival as a dedicated platform for indigenous traditions to “receive their deserved time and place to shine” amidst increasingly contemporary carnival celebrations. The cultural division’s long-term vision anticipates cultivating new traditional groups through these community-focused cultural injections, strengthening Dominica’s intangible cultural heritage against modernization pressures.