Carnival Chair Shannon Hawley Praises Minister Samal Duggins for Driving Sugar Mas Success

Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 23rd 2026 – Chair of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival Committee, Shannon Hawley, has underscored the crucial role of Minister responsible for National Carnival Hon. Samal Duggins in supporting and advancing the national festival. 

Speaking with KLASSFM radio station in Anguilla, on Tuesday 20th February, Hawley emphasized that the Minister’s vision and active involvement have been instrumental in ensuring the continued growth and prominence of Sugar Mas.

“It’s about our passion and our drive, but also about the vision of the Honourable Samal Duggins, our minister responsible for Carnival,” Hawley said. “There’s not a day that goes by when we don’t sit down—whether during Carnival or even on a day like today—to set our plans and our vision in motion.”

Hawley emphasized the significance of ministerial support, describing it as “critical” to the growth of the festival and the sector.

She highlighted that Minister Duggins’ hands-on leadership allows the committee to conduct strategic planning, SWOT analyses, and economic impact assessments with confidence, knowing the Minister fully supports the initiatives.

“We’ve already started the planning for Sugar Mask 55, which takes place in the next 11 months. We’ve already started meeting, as the Minister said earlier, conducting all of our SWOT analysis, our economic impact assessments that we will be presenting to Cabinet.  And I think, again, with a visionary Minister, it is critical because the Minister is then able to push and drive Carnival.”

Hawley said, “His investment and commitment ensure that Sugar Mas continues to remain our premier festival, the largest and most anticipated event on our national calendar.”

Planning for Sugar Mas 55 is already underway, with Hawley and the committee eager to continue building on the festival’s legacy with the strong backing of Minister Duggins.