The Archbishop of Port of Spain, Jason Gordon, has criticised mas band Tribe, saying it “went too far” following reports that female sex toys were distributed in the 2026 Carnival packages to masqueraders.

Speaking during a recent address reflecting on Carnival, the archbishop said he became concerned after seeing reports circulating on social media about the alleged distribution.

“This year, if what I’m seeing on social media is right, Tribe wants to hand out an adult female sex toy to the bags of all the females buying their costume. Tribe gone too far,” he said.

He added that if organisers fail to exercise restraint, government intervention may be necessary.

“Just as I’ve asked the government to regulate social media for the sake of our children, if Tribe cannot pull back on its own, I think the government will have to regulate it. Tribe gone too far.”

The archbishop also linked Tribe to events he claimed promote inappropriate behaviour, referencing fete brands associated with the organisation.

“Now, these are the same people who own Stink and Dirty, the same people who own Get Naked, the same people who own Island Crashers that corrupt our children every single year in Tobago. Own by one person, two people max. Tribe gone too far,” Gordon said.

He warned that Carnival’s commercialisation threatens national values and youth development.

“Our country is not for sale, and our young people are not for sale. We, the good citizens of this beautiful country, have to start putting guardrails for our children,” Gordon said.

Despite his concerns, the archbishop emphasised his appreciation for Carnival’s cultural significance, noting its deep historical and social roots.

“It’s been the last two or three years, I have been reflecting on the carnival,” he said.

Two years ago, he wrote a book titled Rekindling Our Carnival Rhythms, examining the festival’s development over time.

“In it, I show that, you know, whereas I started to write a rant about what was happening, I realised there’s so many beautiful pieces of carnival. You know, the Canboulay riots, the Dimanche Gras show, the Pan, the Moko Jumbies, there’s so many amazing things about carnival.”

He said Carnival reflects the nation’s social identity.

“As carnival goes, so our nation is. It’s really only reflecting who we are.”

Charles also highlighted another piece of writing analysing calypsos from 2025 and their role in nation-building.

“Last year, I wrote this one, choosing seven songs, seven of the calypsos from last year, from 2025, showing how they tell a story of nation building.”

He argued that Carnival has evolved artistically when challenged and cautioned against unchecked expansion of commercial interests.

“The only times when carnival actually evolved into more artistic forms is when it got pushed back,” he said. “For many years, two or three decades now, carnival has been encroaching, encroaching, encroaching. Not all of it, eh? I want to be real clear.”

He said his concerns focus mainly on Carnival Monday and Tuesday activities and the fete industry.

“I’m talking about Carnival Monday and Tuesday, and I’m talking about the fete industry. And I’m talking about an industry. It’s owned by one or two people. This is business. They’re no longer where people used to gather and make carnival costumes as a community and celebrate as a community and have community. No, no, this is big business. Very big business.”

The Archbishop warned that failure to address the issue could negatively influence other regional Carnivals.

“Whatever happens in Trinidad Carnival goes to Barbados, it goes to Grenada, it goes to St. Vincent, it goes all up the islands. We cannot be the people exporting this level.”

He called for a return to what he described as Carnival’s core values.

“We have to stop. We have to dial it back, and we have to bring Carnival back to what it has always been, a celebration of the life, vitality, and creativity of Trinidad and Tobago,” Gordon added.