By Devonne Cornelius
Basseterre, St. Kitts, Jan 4, 2024 (ZIZ Newsroom): Ms. Shannon Hawley, Chairperson of the St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee, says discussions with stakeholders will begin early to find a new route for the staging of Jouvert.
“That’s the intention…of starting the discussions very early with our stakeholders. We need a new home for Jouvert. Jouvert has definitely outgrown the streets of Basseterre…you see people complaining about bottlenecks but offering no constructive solution,” Ms. Hawley said on January 2, 2024, shortly after announcing Grand Carnival Parade results.
She added that “the only solution that can be is moving Jouvert either out of Basseterre or having Jouvert essentially set up similar to the Grand Parade.”
Ms. Hawley said that earlier requests for Jouvert to adopt a new way had been made and that she believes that adding a new route to Jouvert will benefit stakeholders such as revellers and vendors.
“Jouvert has at least 15,000 people downtown…we can’t continue with how it has been because it will continue to grow and if we want to grow our Carnival we have to ensure that our product is satisfactory to all of our stakeholders,” Ms. Hawley said.
Director of Carnival, Mr. Clement ‘Monarch’ O’Garro, made similar remarks and stated that he expects buy-in from the public, stakeholders, and support from Hon. Samal Duggins, Minister with responsibility for Carnival, and the government of St. Kitts and Nevis.
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]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 13, 2020 (DBSKN) — The National Carnival Committee has come in for high praise for ensuring members of the public that even in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Sugar Mas 49 will still be celebrated albeit in a shortened form.
“Our culture is dynamic and over the years we at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis have partnered with the National Carnival Committee in the celebration and preservation of our culture through the staging of Sugar Mas, and this year is no exception,” said the Bank’s Marketing and Product Development Officer, Ms Chantelle Rochester.
The Development Bank official made the remarks on Monday November 9 when she presented the Bank’s cheque of $30,000 for the premium-gold sponsorship of Sugar Mas 49 to the Chairperson of National Carnival Committee, Ms Shannon Hawley, at the Bank’s head office in Basseterre.
“As we are faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Carnival Committee has come out with an innovative way of celebrating Sugar Mas 49 which will not only ensure that people at home don’t miss much of what they are used to, but will also allow our relatives and friends overseas to partake in the celebration as it will be held virtually,” said Ms Rochester.
In receiving the sponsorship cheque, Ms Shannon Hawley noted that the St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival Committee has had a longstanding relationship with the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We have been able to call on the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis through good times and through bad times, and especially this year we fear that as there are so many challenges we anticipate that there be many cutbacks in sponsorship,” said the National Carnival Committee Chairperson.
She added: “We ourselves as the National Carnival Committee have had to cut back on many events including pageants, and parades. So we are more than grateful for the contribution and continued support of the Development Bank especially during these challenging times.”
According to Ms Hawley, there will be a virtual opening of Sugar Mas on Friday December 11, which she advised “will be something that you have never seen before. It will highlight a lot of not only past winners, but we are doing a tribute to Sugar Mas St. Kitts and Nevis related music. So you will hear the likes of from Ellie Matt to 869 Area Code. You will see a series of various artistes, young artistes performing these very popular tunes during the opening of Carnival in addition to folklore etc.”
Two new events, National Carnival Creative Arts competition and a Sugarscope Photography Competition, have been introduced. The National Carnival Creative Arts under the theme ‘Covid-19 and Carnival’ which is encouraging youth between six and seventeen to take part, was launched on Monday, while the Sugar-scope Photography Competition which will allow the general public to see Sugar Mas through the eyes of the photographer will be launched on Monday November 16.
“Those are the two new initiatives by the Carnival Committee that will take place in November,” said Ms Hawley. “Then of course we have our Calypso tents and we know that Development Bank is the Platinum sponsor for the Legends Calypso Tent, and these tents will be streamed live through National Carnival Facebook page, our YouTube channel, and on ZIZ Radio and Television.”
Calypso Tents will be held as follows: Legends Calypso Tent on Saturday November 14; Proud Sounds on Saturday November 21; Legends Calypso Tent on Saturday November 28; and Proud Sounds on Saturday December 5. All events will start at 8:00 pm.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 22, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris was among hundreds of relatives, friends and fans who attended a colourful funeral service held for the late Mr Dion Geron Stevens, affectionally known as King Ayatollah, at the Garden’s Playfield on Monday September 21.
Born in McKnight on February 27, 1967, the very day St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla (along with most of the other small Caribbean colonies) accepted the British offer of associated statehood, the colourful and decorated calypsonian died on August 26 this year after a prolonged illness.
Prime Minister Harris was accompanied at the funeral service by the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, and Area Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Two, the Hon Jonel Powell, and they were later joined by the Minister of Minister of Tourism, Transport and Ports, the Hon Lindsay Grant.
Officiating at the ceremony was Reverend Ira Penny, while musical accompaniment was by the Grand Masters Band. In attendance was the cream of Federation’s top calypsonians, some of who did moving colourful musical tributes which moved the crowd that was in attendance.
A powerful and moving tribute was paid by Ms Shannon Hawley, chairperson of St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival Committee. Other tributes were paid by former Minister and close friend of the late King Ayatollah, Mr Dwyer Astaphan, and former St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Sam Condor.
Another family friend, Mrs Elreter Simpson-Browne who is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, who read the eulogy, revealed that Dion Geron Stevens – King Ayatollah – had in his final days converted into Christianity and had sung popular hymns from his hospital bed.
The memory of King Ayatollah will forever be cherished by among others, his father Mr Willis Daniel, step-father Mr Ashley Walters, grandmother Mrs Yvonne Lewis, sisters Ms Pamela ‘Babyloo’ West, Ms Jean ‘Laverne’ Claxton, and Ms Sherimah Stevens, and brothers Mr Alexis ‘Rambo’ Hazel, Mr Sean ‘I-Shondi’ Stevens, Mr Daren ‘Bogle’ Stevens, and Mr Alanzo ‘Nazie’ Walters.
Interment was at the Springfield Cemetery.
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