There is no controversy in the words of Christou Daurore, but bitterness, yes.
We talk a lot about subsidiarity and proximity, but as soon as we stray from the set paths, the axe falls.
Here is the story told, in the form of an open letter, by one of the protagonists of the community life in Nice, …, sorry, “nissarte.”
On Friday, February 9 at 5:35 PM, I received a phone call from an employee of the City of Nice informing me that we had not obtained permission to hold the Independent Carnival of Sant Ròc at the place St Roch in Nice.
The Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes requires double fencing and security personnel; even the green spaces of the City of Nice do not want the Independent Carnival of Sant Ròc in the garden of place St Roch, which was proposed to us last year and which we did not wish for.
Our request for authorization was made on January 26 to the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes and the City of Nice, we agreed to cancel the parade to remain at place St Roch with the street meal, the throwing of palhassos, flour, …
Another surprise, we had obtained authorization from the City of Nice to organize the 29th World Championship of Palhasso on Sunday, January 28, which went very well with many children and a security perimeter around place St Roch.
I learned last night that this authorization was a mistake and that we should not have obtained it, as with the previous World Championship of Palhasso in 2017.
I believe these security measures are excessive and prevent many initiatives that bring joy to many people.
We are told that these security measures are the consequences of the July 14, 2016 attack in Nissa, this terrorist killed 86 people, injured hundreds, and continues to disrupt the lives of the inhabitants of Nissa.
I am therefore obliged to cancel the Independent Carnival of Sant Ròc, scheduled for place St Roch in Nice on February 11.
Following the intervention of the CRS at the end of the Independent Carnival of Sant Ròc in 2008, the national police asked me in 2009 to make a declaration for each of the upcoming Independent Carnivals.
I did so within the association I preside over, “NISSA PANTAI Centre Culturel Occitan País Nissart e Alpenc,” and obtained the authorizations to do it on the Château hill in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, and we were able to return to St Roch in 2016 under heavy rain.
I want to specify that I am not the only one organizing an Independent Carnival in Nissa, whether in 2017 or this year, other people keep it alive.
I believe in the idea launched by Nux Vomica and Louis Pastorelli in 1990: the reappropriation of the Carnival of Nissa by the inhabitants of Nissa in their neighborhoods.
This idea stems from the fact that the Official Carnival of Nice has, over time, become a commercial attraction for tourists.
In 2018, the Official Carnival of Nice will only have 6 courses, with only 1 during the day (with the Parada Nissarda wanting to highlight the neighborhoods).
The neighborhood carnivals will be confined, like last year in public gardens.
I started participating in the Independent Carnival of St Ròc in 1997 and learned to become an actor in it, to prepare it with my students to make small floats, big heads, costumes, painted posters, to prepare the songs, the dances, to also highlight the Nissart dialect …
I do not lose hope, I still believe in the spirit of the Carnival, this emanation, this unifying and joyful celebration that I found magnificent in Ariane for example.
Since the 2009 carnival, I have been creating the small floats and big heads with the children of Ariane, and this year will be the 10th time we present our carnival creations on Wednesday, February 14 at 3 PM at the AnimaNice Django Reinhardt in Ariane.
Carnevalement yours
Cristòu Daurore
Nissardament yours
