In a significant move to preserve cultural heritage, Grenada’s Ministry of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture has allocated EC$34,417.38 to restore the musical capabilities of the Carriacou Culture Train String Band Group. This investment comes as a direct response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, which destroyed approximately 90% of the group’s instrumental inventory.
The funding, delivered through the ministry’s Community Tourism Grant Funding Project, enabled the procurement of essential equipment including guitars, ukuleles, microphones, and a digital mixer. The formal handover ceremony occurred at the Grenada Tourism Authority’s Carriacou office, symbolizing the government’s commitment to cultural preservation.
Senior Technical Officer Delysia DeCoteau emphasized the group’s dual role in both preserving traditional music and engaging youth through their Culture Kids programme. ‘The proposal clearly demonstrated the value of the group’s work in maintaining musical traditions while contributing to cultural events across the island,’ DeCoteau stated during the presentation.
Permanent Secretary Leanwall Perrotte poetically characterized the donation as providing ‘the tools of storytelling,’ noting that ‘In Carriacou, we do not just play music—we tell our history through strings. Our music connects our past to our future, from the Big Drum to the Parang Festival.’
Formed in May 2019, the community-based ensemble launched its youth training initiative just two months later, achieving substantial local support. The hurricane’s destruction had forced participating children to share instruments, severely hampering educational efforts.
Cultural Officer Anderson Matheson, who leads the group, expressed gratitude for the timely intervention: ‘As we train the next generation of musicians, having proper instruments is essential for learning and cultural continuity.’ Musical Director Neal Matheson similarly commended the ministry’s responsive support.
The Community Tourism Grant Funding Project represents a broader strategic effort to strengthen community-based tourism initiatives throughout Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, simultaneously supporting cultural preservation and sustainable livelihoods.