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Culturama 2007 Press Releases

Culturama 2007 TDC Senior Kaiso Finalists Selected

The following Kaisonians have been selected to compete against reigning King Astro, in the Culturama TDC Senior Kaiso Finals. Hollywood Ginger Kibi Dis and Dat Adowah Baker Siah The TDC Senior Kaiso Semi Finals was held on Saturday July 28th at the Cultural Village and saw 12 Kaisonians competing for a place in the Culturama TDC Senior Kaiso Finals which will be held at the Cultural Complex on Saturday August 4th 2007, 9:00 pm sharp. The admission will be adults $35.00 and Children under 12 years $15.00. This is the second year that TDC St. Kitts-Nevis Ltd will be sponsoring the Culturama Senior Kaiso Finals. Sunday, July 29, 2007

Dominican beauty wins Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant; Nevis placed second

CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July 30, 2007) -- Miss Dominica Leandra Lander walked away with the coveted Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant crown from a field of 10 contestants while Miss Nevis Cari Nicholas placed second, Miss Jamaica Kaysia Johnson third and Miss Anguilla Latoya Hughes fourth. The pageant which is in its second year was held at the Cultural Complex in Charlestown on Friday July 27, 2007. It was attended by Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry and the Hon Hensley Daniel Minister with responsibility for Culture on Nevis . The contest drew contestants from Bardados Ms Stacy Cummins, Grenada Ms. Sharnell Martin, Guyana Ms. Wendy Walcott, Montserrat Ms. Techar Cuffy, St. Maarten Ms. Shanyra Nicholas and the USVI Ms. Jenicia Dalminda. Miss Congeniality was won by Ms. Jamaica . Miss Photogenic went to Ms. Anguilla, Best Swimwear was captured by Ms. Nevis, while Ms. Dominica also won Best Interview, Best Eveningwear and Best talent. “I thank God for pulling me through he is an awesome God and he gave me the confidence and the energy that I needed to win tonight. I love you Dominica and I am happy that I made you proud again. Nevis was a great experience it reminds me of home and it was wonderful,” Ms.Lander said, moments after last year’s queen Ms Jamilla Parris of Nevis placed the crown on her head. She said the theatrical group Thiat Pawol was also in Nevis to represent Dominica in the Drama Festival and their energy was wonderful support for her. The contestants appeared in four segments. During the fanfare, the contestants appeared with the reigning Miss Caribbean Culture Queen in a short routine to set the stage for the contest. In the first round of competition the contestants paraded in swimwear of their choice while in the second round they performed a talent piece. In the third round they modelled an evening wear of their choice and were interviewed. Ahead of the contest, Minister with responsibility for Culture on Nevis the Hon. Hensley Daniel told the participants, that given their youthfulness and charm, they held the keys for future regional integration and co-operation. He said they had come to Nevis to participate in an event at a time when the island celebrated its Culturama festival and therefore the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen pageant added another dimension to the festival. “With so many countries participating, this represents an opportunity for the diffusion of various aspects of Caribbean culture into the Nevisian society…bear in mind that this pageant can help you to broaden your horizons and enjoy a more informed perspective of the Caribbean,” he said. Meantime Pageant Organiser Mr. Randy Jeffers of Braziers Estate said that the show met his expectations and thanked the patrons. When asked what his driving force to organise the pageant he said the Culturama festival needed something more exciting. “I think Culturama wanted a boost and I think this contributes to it. The turnout was bigger this year. Chances are I might do it again next year,” he said. He also added that the Pageant was his contribution to aid in the integration of the Caribbean people and to showcase the region’s people and culture.

Premier Parry calls for a peaceful Culturama festival

CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July 19, 2007) -- Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry urged Nevisians to enjoy the islands’ cultural festival – Culturama, in a peaceful and crime free manner, while he briefly welcomed all the festival’s participants and stakeholders, at the Premier’s Cocktail hosted in their honour, at the Old Manor Hotel in Gingerland on Wednesday July 19, 2007. The annual festival which will commence of July 27 to August 7 will include a Miss Culture Pageant, a Senior Calypso contest, a Mr. and Miss Talented Youth Pageant, a Junior Calypso competition, Mr. Kool contest, a Cultural Food Fair, a street parade and Jou’vert jump up in the streets of Charlestown . This year’s theme is “Feel de Riddim its Culturama 2007” and will be celebrated under the patronage of Mr. Nehemiah Neale. Meantime, Minister with responsibility for Culture on Nevis the Hon. Hensley Daniel urged Nevisians to use Culturama 2007 to redirect their minds to the festival’s original ideals. “I want us all to do our part and encourage one another to be peaceful enjoy the fun and as I usually say dance, prance but don’t chance. Let us use the 2007 festival to redirect our minds to the original ideals of Culturama which were to promote a medium for folk expression, a medium for cultural expression,” he said and added, “we are satisfied that we have begun preparations for the festival on time but we expect you to cooperate and help us to make this 2007 one of the best.” According to Mr. Daniel, culture was a way of life of a people, and in the case of Nevis culture had found expression in the island’s calypso, music, dance, art and drama. He said the island had raw cultural talent, which the cultural festival sought to tap into and with the introduction of new legislation Culturama would be improved in the future. “I think we have at our disposal in Nevis a tremendous amount of raw cultural talent and the Culturama Festival seeks to harness that talent and make it better. Just last week we passed the Nevis Cultural Development Foundation so that by next year Culturama will find itself directed by the Cultural Development Foundation and we will look forward to its improvement and development,” he said. Other remarks also came from Mr. Halsted “Sooty” Byron Culturama 2007 Chairman while Mr. Antonio “Abonaty” Liburd Executive Director of the Culturama Secretariat chaired the evening

Miss Culture contestants launched CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July 02, 2007) -- Chairman of the Culturama Queen Show Committee Ms. Hazel Francis called on the Nevisian public to lend their support to the five contestants who will vie for the coveted title of Miss Culture 2007/08 one month away, citing that their participation was a show of true patriotism and national pride. She made the comment during brief remarks on Friday June 29, 2007 while the contestants were presented to hundreds of cheering fans at the official launch of the Miss Culture Talent Pageant 2007, on the Charlestown Waterfront. The contestants - Ms. Cable and Wireless St. Kitts/Nevis Ltd. Shannecia Demming; Ms. FirstCaribbean International Bank Ltd. Ms. Camara Lee; Ms. Carib Breweries St. Kitts Nevis Ltd. Chevaughn Claxton; Ms. St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank Romancia Arthurton and Ms. Nevis Air and Sea Port Authority Kim Jeffers - were presented by reigning Miss Culture 2006/07 Cari Nicholas accompanied by the music of the I Africana Drummers. Ms. Nicolas was escorted off the Sea Bridge (SKN) Inc. on the arms of Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry, as the contestants made their grand entrance in the Charlestown Port. The vessel was decked in an array of vibrant colours which complimented the colour scheme of the contestant’s wardrobe in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Western hemisphere. Miss Francis indicated that the contestants would continue to be on show at a number of public events ahead of the main contest. They will appear at two fashion shows on July 08 and July 14 at Mingles, Cades Bay and the Old Manor Hotel, Gingerland respectively at 4:30pm. The contestants will also be spotlighted at a Swimwear Contest at the Cultural Complex in Charlestown on July 29th. The contest is the first round of competition will be prejudged. The points amassed at that contest will be added to the final contest which would include the talent, eveningwear and interview segments. Meantime, Mr. Halstead “Sooty” Byron Chairman of Culturama 2007 Central Committee said when Culturama (a festival showcasing Nevisian art, folklore and culture) began in 1974 the Ms. Culture contest was the flagship of the festival. While he told the public to give the contestants positive support, he urged the contestants, their chaperons and all involved in the contest to maintain the standard and integrity of the show to ensure that it continued to be a major event of the festival. The launching ceremony was chaired by Mr. Antonio “Abonaty” Liburd, Executive Director of the Culturama Secretariat.

From: The Executive Director Culturama Secretariat The Culturama Secretariat is pleased to announce that the 2007 slogan has been selected. The winning slogan “Feel De Riddim! It’s Culturama 2007!” was submitted by Karen Liburd, a 3A1 student at the Charlestown Secondary School. The winning slogan which was selected from a total of 188 entries will be used to vigorously market Culturama 2007. Ms Liburd will receive a plaque along with two complimentary tickets to all Culturama 2007 activities. The Culturama Secretariat takes this opportunity to congratulate Ms Liburd for her winning slogan and also to thank all those persons who participated in the 2007 Culturama Slogan Competition.

NIA to tighten relationship with corporate partners for Culturama Festival   CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (June 04, 2007) -- Minister of Culture on Nevis the Hon. Hensley Daniel, said the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) planned to tighten its relationship with it’s corporate partners and therefore bring better management  to Culturama, Nevis’ annual cultural festival.   The Minister’s remark came as he formally launched Culturama 2007, during a press conference at the Red Cross Building in Charlestown on June 01, 2007. This year’s festival will be celebrated under the patronage of Mr. Nehemiah Neal a fifer for the past 60 years under the theme “Feel De Riddim! It’s Culturama 2007”.   “We [NIA] want to send a very clear message to our cooperate entities that we value their contribution and we are going to work assiduously to ensure that that is so. We thank them [private sector] for the partnership because we can’t create a quality festival without the involvement of the private sector.   “I want you to look at the festival, share the ways and means by which you think we could add value to the festival. Add value to your contribution and help us to sharpen the focus because we certainly want to benefit from your additional expertise with management in the private sector,” he said.   The Culture Minister noted that in recent times, the Culturama Festival had generated no profits and the NIA had continued to subsidise it heavily. He said the new Administration wished to move away from that practice and to reengineer the festival in such a way that it would become profitable for both the Administration and the allied Private Sector sponsors.   “I want us in the festival and in the wider public to understand that we want to create a business environment for business to thrive, so that our corporate sponsors can do better.   “I also want to make the point in that regard that what we are going to do, we are going to incorporate Culturama under the National Cultural Foundation and give it separate management and accountability so we are sending a very clear message to our sponsors and to the public that we are serious about managing the arts for economic development,” he said.   Notwithstanding, Mr. Daniel disclosed that the Administration had planned to tap into the tremendous potential of Culturama since in his view the cultural industry on Nevis had lagged behind in terms of the maximization of its potential.   He indicated that plans were afoot to have the first reading in the Nevis Island Assembly, where Culturama would be interpreted and set as a statutory cooperation. He said it would give the festival a much needed opportunity, to work and develop itself outside the direct ambits of government.   Meantime, the Festival’s 2007 major sponsor Cable and Wireless St. Kitts and Nevis Limited’s Chief Executive Officer of Ms. Patricia Walters, handed over a $150,000. cheque as Platinum Sponsor to Minister Daniel.   In brief remarks she outlined her telecommunication company’s contribution in various areas to Nevis and pledged its continued support to the people of Nevis .   Other sponsors who presented cheques were the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority, the Nevis Housing and Land Authority, the First Caribbean International Bank, Carib Breweries St. Kitts and Nevis Ltd and St. Kitts and Nevis Trading and Development Company (TDC).   During the ceremony, other remarks came from Mr. Halstead Byron Chairman of the Nevis Culturama Committee and Mr. Antonio Liburd Executive Director of the Culturama Secretariat.   For this years festival, the pre activities will commence on Saturday July 7th with the Senior Kaiso quarterfinals; A guest Artist Night on July 21; the Nevis Theatre Guild Drama Festival on July 25th; A mini Folk Parade and Ms Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant on July 27th; the Senior Kaiso Semi Finals on July 28; Bmobile Miss Culture Swim Wear on July 29; Art and Craft Exhibition on July 30; Nevis Cultural Expo and Junior Kaiso Contest on August 01; Mr. Kool on August 03; Cultural Food Fair, Legends Cricket Match and Senior Kaiso Finals on August 04; 20+ Athletic Meet and Miss Culture Queen Pageant on August 5th; Emancipation J’Ouvert Jump Up on August 6th’Cultural Street Parade and Last Lap on August 07 and Culturama Awards on August 18th.