Mayor revealed amount that will be allocated to Groups
At a press conference that was held after noon this Tuesday, the first previews for the 2026 carnival were delivered.
The Mayor announced to the media that the figure will be considerably lower than that of previous years taking into account the economic situation that the commune is going through.
He also said that there are no secrets and that from this very moment the total amount of money that the Departmental Executive will allocate to Momo’s party next year will be known.
He also announced the criteria used to grant this first advance that the representatives of the different groups received in the last few hours.
“There was always a certain uncertainty, a certain secrecy about what the Government of Cerro Largo contributed to the carnival. We have not only met with the Samba groups, with the Lubolos groups or with others that are going to be part of the carnival, but we are going to be totally real with the money that we give them in one way or another” pointed out Christian Morel.
This Tuesday, October 21, the first delivery of money was made. “There was a cut, as there have been in donations and collaborations, but at the same time there is a commitment to fulfill what we are promising” he stated.
The Mayor promised the Directors of the Groups to pay the entire amount agreed upon at most 10 days after the end of the carnival and it could even be paid sooner if the situation of the Commune allows it. “I would rather promise little and deliver 100% than promise a lot and not deliver 100%” he synthesized.
Morel confirmed that on November 21 he will be at the Ministry of Tourism to present Reina del Lago, Panda Fest and the Melo Carnival.
“Even without knowing what collaboration from the National Government we are going to have, even without knowing what collaboration from commerce and without knowing what the numbers are, today in this conference, with the help of Treasurer Wilquer Freire we will be giving $3,000,000” revealed.
“To the Samba Schools Juana de Melo, Pantera Cor de Rosa, La Cuchilla, Imperio do Berimbao, Mi Jacinta, Mulatas de Fuego and Unidos por el Samba a total of $1,400,000, at a rate of $200,000 each” reported.
“To the Samba Groups Chuva De Pedra, Chispas del Mendoza and Samba del Este, we will be giving $250,000 divided among the three and to the groups Lubolos Afro Candombe, La Escuela de Candombe, Llave 13, Abayomí, Candombearte and Plenitud we will be giving a total of $1,000,000 divided in different ways” express.
The amounts delivered in this first advance, for some groups will represent 25% of the total, for others 40% and for some 20%. Everything will depend on the final amount.
“Before the end of November I will make a new delivery of 20%, with which we will reach December with a 50% delivery to each group” Morel assured.
“In the month of January we will deliver 25% and I want, in the month of February or at the latest in the month of March, to complete 100%” the Mayor insisted.
“The carnival will cost approximately $14,000,000” advancement.
“All the groups that do not have expenses like these that need to buy clothing and instruments have, will be the last to receive the items” Christian Morel specified.
CATEGORIES IN SAMBA SCHOOLS
The Mayor remains firm in resuming the contests at the level of the different carnival groups. “By 2027 we want to create Category A and Category B” he posed. “This year we are going to consider that if they were all in Category B, a camera trap would be placed on the first three nights of the parade. After the carnival we would analyze what product each one presented.” said.
“To deliver these advances, the background of each group has been taken as criteria” reported.
The contest “it’s my dream” Morel responded when asked by THE DIARY PROFESSIONAL about the possibility of returning to the carnivals of yesteryear. “I hope to have the support of the Lubolos groups and the Samba Schools so that we can do it” he commented.
THERE IS NO REGISTERED DEBT
In relation to unpaid commitments from the previous Administration, the Communal Chief was forceful: “The carnival fans say that there is a debt. This Mayor tells them that when they handed over the government to him they told him that nothing was owed for the carnival” he emphasized.
“It will be the task of the carnival members to continue insisting for collection” he stated. “When I arrived and sat on the couch, they told me that nothing was owed to the carnival. Today within the Government of Cerro Largo, within the accounting of the Municipality, there is no debt with the carnival or with anyone linked to the carnival. There is nothing accounted for” he stated.
SUMMER THEATER WITH LUCAS SUGO
“On Carnival Thursday night, the person who will close at the Summer Theater will be Lucas Sugo with a 40 or 50 minute performance so that everyone can enjoy it” confirmed.
“What I want most is for the Theater to be full of carnival groups. Those who want to perform will show up. My mission was to find a good turnout, that’s why we gave it that finishing touch” held.
He added that efforts will be made to ensure that access to this show is free to the public.
WITHOUT SHOW FIGURES, WITH TROPICAL MUSIC GROUPS
“Figures that are related to the media are completely eliminated, any figure that is not related to the world of carnival or the world of music is completely ruled out” remarked Christian Morel.
“The performances of Miriam Britos, Fede Rojas, Martin Piña, Lucas Sugo, Soy tu Sol and a lot of groups that may not be related to the carnival, but are related to culture and music, have already been confirmed.” he stated.
“3 Samba Schools from Montevideo are confirmed, 2 from Artigas, we are closing with a Cohort from Porto Alegre, we are trying an exchange with a Samba School from Bagé and we are making a great effort to bring candombe from Treinta y Tres, Tacuarembó and Montevideo” express.
The neighborhood boards, according to the Mayor, will be managed in a different way than in previous periods. “Nowadays what weighs a lot is money” hill.
