Caribbean Festivals

St. Kitts Saddle Fiesta To Bring Harmony In Community

The Jingle Bells String Band

The Jingle Bells String Band
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint KItts – Nevis
August 18, 2008 (CUOPM)

The 12th Annual Saddle Fiesta celebrations bring communities together to showcase their talents and should focus on the challenges the young people are facing.

Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas who officially opened the annual festival said the events should be used to bring unity and harmony among residents.

“Saddle Fiesta brings together the residents of the communities of Saddlers, Harris’, Lavington, Parsons, Lynches and Pogson and gives them the opportunity to celebrate. We enjoy ourselves in music, dance, other forms of demonstrations of our natural beauty and talents. It is a time when we show case what the young people can do. It brings out their creativity and natural beauty in song and social commentary via calypsos,” said Prime Minister Douglas at the official opening ceremony on the grounds of the Saddlers Primary School.

Dr. Douglas said bringing people from different communities together allows them to socialise and integrate and allows participants an opportunity “to laugh at each other, laugh with each other, laugh at themselves as we recall the days of fun that is part of our heritage that takes us back to our African ancestors.”

“It is a time when we focus on a number of current issues on the environment, health and the elderly. It also helps us to focus on the challenges that our young people are facing today. And out of all of that, we enjoy ourselves as we educate ourselves in some of these areas,” said Dr. Douglas.

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St. Kitts 12th Annual Saddle Fiesta To Start

St. Kitts Saddle Fiesta Contestants – 2003 Photo By Erasmus Williams Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis August 11 2008 (CUOPM) The 12th Annual Saddle Fiesta kicks off this coming Thursday with the Official Opening Ceremony at the Saddlers Primary School Grounds. …

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TDC Nevis gives $30,000 to 2008 Culturama Festival

TDC Limited - Nevis, West Indies

TDC Limited – Nevis, West Indies

Charlestown, Nevis
July 24, 2008

TDC Group of Companies joined the list of corporate sponsors for Nevis’ largest cultural annual festival Culturama, when TDC Nevis Ltd. presented a $30,000 cheque to the Nevis Cultural Foundation through the Culturama Secretariat, on July 24, 2008, at its Pinneys Industrial Site location.

The Company’s Managing Director Mr. Ernie France said while he presented the cheque to Culturama Chairman Mr. Halsted “Sooty” Byron, that TDC Nevis Ltd. had been associated with the Festival throughout its 34 years of existence, having provided assistance in the form of gifts and prices for all the participants.

He explained that the chance to assist with the Festival presented a unique opportunity for the Company.

“This is the highlight of the Culturama Festivity and by our sponsorship of this event [senior calypso (kasio) competition], we see this as an opportunity to ensure that a show of the highest and most professional standard is brought to all the patrons who year after year look forward to and attend this event.

“Our sponsorship also assists in ensuring this very important art form is preserved for the benefit of our children and their children’s children,” he said.

In the past, the Company had provided sponsorship for the Mr. and Miss Talented Youth Pageant but switched sponsorship to the Senior Kaiso Monarch Competition in 2006.

Mr. France thanked the Culturama Committee for the opportunity to sponsor the contest and thanked them for their collaboration as the negotiations were long and hard but cordial.

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Nevis Premier Hosts Cocktail Party For Culturama 2008

Ms. Culturama Contestants 2008

Ms. Culturama Contestants 2008

Charlestown, Nevis
July 18, 2008

Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry and his wife Mrs. Myrtle Parry, hosted a cocktail party at the Old Manor Hotel on July 17, in honour of the 2008 Culturama participants.

The cocktail featured speeches by Premier Parry, this year’s Chairman of Culturama Mr. Halstead Byron as well as representatives from the various sub committees.

Premier Parry in his presentation offered words of support to the participants but focussed heavily on the issue of deviant behaviour.  He encouraged the public to collaborate with the police and assist them in any way possible.

“Every precaution is being taken to make sure we have good shows.  Every effort is being made by the Police Force on St. Kitts and on Nevis to make sure you are protected.

“The Police is aware of what is taking place.  They have done their homework, they have organised themselves and they are ready for any eventualities,” Minister Parry said.

He appealed to parents to enroll their sons in positive activities in order to avoid them becoming delinquent.

“I am always surprised and I have been surprised for the past two years that we speak of the Juniour Calypso Show, then you see all the girls coming up and hardly any boys and it is a bad message in our community, that more and more the boys are not getting involved in anything positive and constructive.

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