Prime Minister Douglas 2005 Miss Culture Luncheon Ceremony!

PRESS RELEASE From: St. Kitts Nevis Prime Minister's Press Secretary Thursday, JULY 21st, 2005 PM ADVISES CULTURAMA CONTESTANTS TO USE SHOW TO PREPARE FOR CHALLENGES AHEAD BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 20TH 2005 – The five contestants in the upcoming annual Miss Culture Queen Pageant were advised on Tuesday to use the experience of their participation wisely and in preparation for some of the challenges that they would have to face in life. “Apart from the poise and the dignity that I believe are been enhanced for the Show and your participation in the Show, I think it prepares you in the long term for facing large crowds, for taking on challenges, for sticking to a task that you have set for yourselves and thus emerging not only being successful and victorious, but to a large extent using the experience as one from which you would learn from,” St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas told the Nevisian beauties, their chaperons and members of the Culturama Committee during a luncheon he hosted in the Calypso Restaurant at the posh St. Kitts Marriott Resort. Dr. Douglas told the contestants that they have the full support of the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. “You have also my personal full support and indeed the full support of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis as you go confidently into this show,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who told the young lasses: “You are a group of distinctly beautiful young ladies. There is no question in my mind that talent will follow beauty and I look forward to that night when I look forward for that night when I would see which one of you will emerge as the best of all in terms of your ability on stage, because already all of you are winners and queens.” Dr. Douglas advised the contestants to put behind them the competitive spirit of just simply winning and to use the occasion to “building your character, building your self esteem and be a proud representative of Nevis and St. Kitts and be proud representatives of the young people of our beautiful country, St. Kitts and Nevis.” Dr. Douglas also thanked the organisers of the Miss Culture Queen Pageant Culturama, especially Mrs. Judy Parris-Rawlins; the chaperones and the sponsors. The five contestants vying for the title of Ms. Culture 2005 are Asha Jones (Miss Cariglobe); Charmaine Budgeon (Miss Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis; Jamilla Parris (Miss Carib Brewery); Claudia Liburd (Miss Berger Paints) and Jaedee Caines (Miss National Bank Group of Companies). Speaking on behalf of the contestants, chaperones, sponsors and the Culturama Sub-Committee, Miss Asha Jones thanked Prime Minister Douglas for hosting the luncheon. “We really appreciate what you have done for us and I say thanks,” said the Miss Cariglobe representative. Inviting Prime Minister Douglas and all others present to attend all the shows, she promised “an eye bulging, tempting to touch swim wear segment.” The luncheon was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Marcella Liburd. Culturama 2005 will be officially launched on Thursday July 21st followed by the “Cultural Showcase and Junior Kaiso Contest” at the Cultural Village. A “Gala Launch of Dramatic Presentation” and “Old Story Time” by Trevor Rhone at the Nevis Cultural Centre on July 23rd . The “Senior Kaiso Semi-Finals” is slated for July 23rd; the “Miss Culture Swim Suit Contest” on July 24th; “Rhythmz Dance Theatre Production” on July 25th; Repeat performance of “Old Story Time,” on July 26th ; “Mr. Kool Contest” on July 27th and the “Mr. and Ms. Talented Youth Contest” on July 28th. A “Small Business Day – Nevis Made for Global Trade” and “International Night of the Stars” are set for July 29th ; July 30th has been set aside for the “All Day Cultural Food Fair & Day of Legends - featuring Legends vs Returning Nationals Cricket Match” with the “Ms Culture Queen Show” that night. The “Culturama Horse Races” and “Senior Kaiso Contest” are set for July 31st. The “Emancipation J’Ouvert Jam,” “Herbert’s Beach Affair” and “Ms. Teen Nevis Pageant are set for August 1st. The 14-day cultural explosion continues on August 2nd with the “Cultural Street Parade & Display” and “Last Lap Jump Up” and climaxes with the “Culturama Cool Down” on August 3rd.

Premier Amory 2005 Culturama Cocktail Ceremony!

PRESS RELEASE From: Press & Public Relations Dept, Nevis Island Administration Wednesday, JULY 13, 2005 Nevis Premier calls on residents and visitors to take pride in their culture Charlestown Nevis (July 13, 2005) Premier of Nevis, the Hon Mr. Vance Amory on Tuesday July 12, called on residents and visitors to take pride in their culture. He was at the time addressing a cocktail ceremony held in honour of the participants of various shows for the 2005 Culturama season. The function, which was held at the Old Manor Hotel in Gingerland, saw returning nationals, visitors and residents alike greeting each other with much gusto under a starry night. He told the gathering that some people try to downplay the importance of sovereignty, culture and ethnicity and added, “It is my view that you cannot tell a Jamaican that he is not a Jamaican, ……., his first allegiance is to his country of birth and so it is when people try to downplay the importance of sovereignty and the existence of nation states, I believe that that is going against what is natural.” “I want to say to us as we celebrate this Culturama this year that we must take pride in our culture in being what we are and in being who we are because that is what makes us, in a way, different. Yes we are similar to everybody every where else but in a way we are also different. We must take pride in exhibiting our cultural heritage,” commented Premier Amory. As Minister of Finance, Premier Amory observed that his ministry accepted the invitation to host the evening reception on behalf of the government and people of the island saying, “it is my pleasure to do that because I believe we must show appreciation for the participants who make Culturama what it is.” The festival which is being celebrated under the theme, “Fete and Spree in Unity, Culturama is all a we” saw the contestants for Ms Culture Queen Pageant, the Mr. Kool Contest, Mr. & Miss Talented Teen Contestants as well as the Participants of the Junior Calypso competition. Minister of Culture, the Hon Mr. Malcolm Guishard gave brief remarks. He pointed out that the evening was to honour the young ladies, (Ms Culture Contestants) who had weathered the storm and who had steered the course and had decided to grace the audience with their beauty. He attributed that to the fact that most times, persons interested in participating in the cultural festival are usually discouraged from being involved in such activities. He took the opportunity to thank the chairperson of the Ms Culture Queen contestants and the committee for a job well done. Also giving brief remarks was Chairman of the Culturama Committee, Mr. Tyrone O’Flaherty while the vote of thanks was done by one of the queen contestants, Ms Claudia Liburd. The ceremony was chaired by Executive Director, Mr. Antonio Liburd

MISS TEEN SHOW NO LONGER IN THE CULTURAMA LINE UP!

PRESS RELEASE From: STAR SEARCH PROMOTIONS TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2005 Star search promotions regrets to inform the general public, that the miss teen show slated for the night of august 1st 2005, which should have formed part of celebrations marking the 31st anniversary of culturama would no longer be held on that night. The organisation has proposed the date of thursday 15th septemer for the hosting of this show. The decision to postpone the show was arived at following our consultations with the contestants, their chaperones, the culturama secretariat and the royal st christopher and nevis police force. Following meetings with these very important stakeholders, it was felt that the production of the miss teen show at this time, would not meet the standard acceptable to star search promotions, or deserved by you the general public. Once again we regret to inform you of the dissapointing turn of events. We however wish to invite you to turn out on the night of september 15 for the miss teen show 2005.

2005 Ms Culture Queen Contestants Introduced to Public

PRESS RELEASE FROM: Executive Director, Culturama Secretariat Sunday, June 19, 2005 SUBJECT: 2005 Ms Culture Queen Contestants Formally Introduced to the General Public The 2005 Ms Culture Queen Pageant contestants were formally introduced to the general public on Friday June 17th during a very impressive ceremony held on the apron of the Nevis Tourism Authority Building. The official launch was preceded by a mini motorcade from the S. L. Horsford’s Nevis Center into Charlestown. The helmeted contestants were transported on motorcycles during the motorcade on route to Charlestown. The five contestants are: 1. Seventeen year old Charmaine Budgeon from Jessup’s Village St. Thomas’ Parish. Ms Budgeon is employed at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis and is sponsored by the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis. 2. Nineteen year old Jaedee Caines from Braizer’s Estate St. John’s Parish. Ms Caines is a recent graduate of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College where she recently pursued studies leading to CAPE A’ Level exams. Ms. Caines is sponsored by the St. Kitts Nevis National Bank Group of Companies. 3. Eighteen year old Claudia Liburd from Brown Pasture Village St. John’s Parish. Ms Liburd is a recent graduate of the Charlestown Secondary School Six Form College where she recently pursued studies leading to CAPE A’ Level exams. Ms. Liburd is sponsored by Berger Paints Barbados Ltd through their local agents TDC. 4. Twenty three year old Asha Jones from the Alley Sandy Point, St. Kitts. Ms Jones is a recent graduate of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College where she recently pursued studies leading to an associate’s degree in Education. Ms. Caines is presently employed as a teacher at the Sandy Point High School and she is sponsored by UTS Cariglobe Mobile Services. 5. Twenty year old Jamilla Parris from Cradock Road Charlestown. Ms. Parris is a teacher at the St. Thomas’ Primary School. Ms Parris will be sponsored by Carib Breweries St. Kitts Nevis Ltd. The ceremony included brief remarks by the Executive Director of Culturama Mr. Abonaty Liburd, Mrs. Judy Parris-Rawlins, chair person of the Ms. Culture Queen Pageant Sub-committee, former Ms. Culture, Kamara Louisy, the five contestants who gave greetings on behalf of themselves and their sponsors and the Honorable Malcolm Guishard who officially launched the 2005 Ms Culture Queen Pageant. The remaining activities for the Ms Culture Queen Pageant include a fashion show on July 17th, the Swim Wear Contest on July 24th and the Ms. Culture Queen Contest on July 30th.

SLOGAN COMPETITION Winner

PRESS RELEASE FROM: Executive Director, Culturama Secretariat Thursday, March 17, 2005 SUBJECT: 2005 Culturama Slogan Selected The Culturama Secretariat is pleased to announce that the 2005 slogan has been selected. The winning slogan is “Fete and Spree in Unity, Culturama is all ah we”. This winning slogan was submitted by ten year old Romisha Malone who is a grade five student at the Charlestown Primary School. The winning slogan which was selected from among 74 entries will be used to vigorously market Culturama 2005. Romisha Malone will receive a trophy along with two complimentary tickets to all Culturama 2005 activities. The Culturama Secretariat takes this opportunity to congratulate Ms Malone for her winning slogan. The Secretariat would also like to thank all those persons who participated in the 2005 Culturama Slogan Competition.

PRESS RELEASE FROM: Executive Director, Culturama Secretariat Friday, March 04, 2005 SUBJECT: INVITATION FOR MS CULTURE QUEEN CONTESTANTS The Culturama Secretariat invites applications from single ambitious and talented young ladies between the ages of 18 and 25 years and who are presently residing on Nevis for the past twelve months, to enter the 2005 Ms Culture Queen Contest. Interested persons can collect application forms from the Culturama Secretariat Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. All completed application forms must be returned to the Culturama Secretariat by May 1st 2005.

INVITATION FOR MR KOOL PARTICIPANTS

The Culturama Secretariat invites applications from single ambitious, talented and kool males between the ages of 18 and 25 years and who are presently residing on Nevis for the past twelve months, to enter the 2005 Mr. Kool Contest. Interested persons can collect application forms from the Culturama Secretariat Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. All completed application forms must be returned to the Culturama Secretariat by May 1st 2005.