Trinidad’s TT$4,000 CARIFESTA cake raises eyebrows

(Trinidad Guardian) Questions are now being raised about the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts’ (MCDCA) decision to fork out $4,000 on a cake while ministry workers claim they had been facing problems in the recent past to get basic office supplies.

The 32 x 40-inch sponge cake was decorated with the CARIFESTA Trinidad and Tobago logo and was the main feature at the thank-you reception for volunteers hosted by the ministry on Thursday night at the National Academy for the Performing Arts.

The cost of the cake was confirmed by an employee of the Kiss Baking Company, which got the contract to bake the dessert.

Guardian Media was told that some members of staff who were present at the function were taken aback and even upset by the size and cost of the cake, while other guests marvelled at its size and took selfies to capture the moment.

One attendee said that in her speech, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly stated that they were “all a part of something big, so let’s partake of something big,” in reference to CARIFESTA and the cake. CARIFESTA XIV was held between August 16 to 25 and it cost $43 million for this country to host the event.

Well placed sources said on Thursday as the ministry celebrated the success of the event, there was a cutting ceremony involving the minister and John Arnold, president of the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago, and then guests were invited to partake. In addition to the $4,000 cake, guests were treated to a variety of food choices. On the menu, there was pastelles, fruit and fresh salads, Indian delicacies, soups, pastries, etc. There were three bar stations with a very wide range of liquor and other drinks. Efforts to confirm the cost of the entire event were unsuccessful.

Guardian Media Contacted PriceSmart which also bakes cakes. An employee told us that the biggest cake they produce is a full sheet (18X24X2 inches) and that costs $320.