The chairs of the Cayman Islands’ two major carnival organisations have announced the merger of their events into a single celebration named ‘One Cayman Carnival’.
The historic union, revealed on The Buzz programme on Radio Cayman on 3 February, brings an end to years of competition between Cayman Carnival Batabano and CayMAS.
Batabano chair Donna Myrie and CayMAS chair Jermaine Sharpe joined host Kathy Miller to discuss the significance of the merger.
The move follows the introduction of Heritage Month by the Ministry of Culture, which provided the framework for the two groups to consolidate their resources and energy.
“One carnival is a historic moment for Batabano and CayMAS and the people of the Cayman Islands,” Myrie said.
She noted that while previous merger attempts had failed, the current ministry and a renewed sense of mutual respect between the organisers made the partnership possible.
The unified event is scheduled for Saturday, 23 May, during the US Memorial Day weekend.
Sharpe explained that the date was selected to capture “carnival chasers” and international tourists who can take advantage of long weekends in Jamaica and the United States.
The merger is expected to strengthen the carnival as a tourism product and resolve long-standing dilemmas for sponsors and masqueraders who previously had to “pick a side”.
The organisers hope to present a unified proposal to the Ministry of Tourism to showcase the economic potential of a single, world-class event.
While both Batabano and CayMAS will remain separate entities, they will share the road under the One Cayman Carnival umbrella.
The 2026 event will introduce new competitive elements, including awards for the ‘Best One Cayman Carnival Band’ and the ‘Best Spirit of One Cayman Carnival’.
The organisers emphasised that the merger also serves as a protective measure for local culture.
Sharpe addressed rumours of outside forces attempting to start a third carnival, stating that a unified front is essential to “protect and preserve what’s yours”.
“We’ve chosen collaboration over competition and contention,” Myrie added. “The time has come… the country, the island, the people, we all need a healing.”
