BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, January 26, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Sponsor of the longest running domino league in the country, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, on Sunday January 24 congratulated sponsors and organisers of a national domino competition which has brought together seasoned domino players from across the country.
Prime Minister Harris, who is the sponsor of the highly successful Constituency Number Seven Domino League which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, was on Sunday at the New Town Community Centre where the recently relaunched St. Kitts National Domino Association (SKNDA) is hosting a national domino competition involving twelve teams.
“I want to first congratulate the sponsors and the organisers for coming together and putting together what today has been a very exciting game of domino, which involves players from all across the country,” said the Honourable Prime Minister, who also took part in an exhibition game.
The competition, which will help with the selection of a St. Kitts team that will take part at future World Council of Domino Federation (WCDF) championships after an eighteen-year hiatus, has been sponsored by the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis – Platinum Sponsor, First Federal Credit Union, Best For Less Trading Ltd, The Craft House, and NAGICO Insurances.
“The games started after five o’clock and we are going late and there is still high energy, and high excitement,” remarked Prime Minister Harris after the first results where Terminal Boyz Domino Club beat Latecomers Domino Club 26-6 were announced at around 8:20 pm.
“It shows there is a strong passion, and what is good is we have a mix,” Dr Harris observed. “We have those from the Spanish community, we have our own local players, we have the most youthful players, and we have some who are advanced in age – so there are many opportunities for each one to learn. In my view, this evening up to tonight so far has been the very best in terms of domino I have seen played in many years.”
As he commended all the teams taking part in the competition the Prime Minister noted: “Of course I am impressed that we have quite a number of the teams that have been playing in my own constituency league over many years. So all in all, this is a fantastic show of solidarity and support.”
In the games played on Sunday, Terminal Boyz beat Latecomers 26-6; Eagle Claws beat Newcomers II 26-22; Spartans Fig Tree beat King Balang 26-17; Los Fuertes del Domino beat Lodge 26-6; Poor Man Pocket beat Masters 26-16; and Newcomers I beat Til Ah Morning 28-18.
Points standing after three rounds of play: Terminal Boyz and Poor Man Pocket are jointly holding the first position each having amassed 16 points. The second position is also jointly held as Til Ah Morning and Newcomers I have 11 points each. Others are Latecomers, 10 points; Masters, 10 points; Lodge, 5 points; Eagle Claws, 5 points; Los Fuertes del Domino, 5 points; Spartans Fig Tree, 5 points; Newcomers II, 0 points; and King Balang, 0 points.
Fourth round of play will be on Thursday January 28 at the same venue, starting at 5:00 pm.
“I just want to say kudos to the Honourable Prime Minister for showing the sort of interest he has been showing over the last twenty-five-plus years to keep domino alive,” said President of the St. Kitts National Domino Association, Mr Romeo Parris. “There has been no national domino in any organised way that has been taking place, so domino would have been dead basically at a certain level had it not been for his involvement.”
At the official opening ceremony of the tournament, which was also held on Sunday January 24 at the New Town Community Centre and chaired by Vice Chairman of the St. Kitts National Domino Association Mr Keithly Blanchette, main sponsor Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis was represented by Public Relations Officer Mr Peter Ngunjiri, while Best For Less Trading Ltd was represent by Manager Mr Anand Samtani, and The Craft House by General Manager Ms Haley Cassius.
“This game, in my opinion, would not have been possible had it not been for the large contribution from the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the cooperation of the institution’s CEO Mr Lenworth Harris, so that must be underlined,” commented Mr Parris. “We also thank our other sponsors, First Federal Credit Union, Best For Less Trading Ltd, The Craft House, and NAGICO Insurances for coming on board to support the tournament.”
]]>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.
]]>The Development Bank of St Kitts-Nevis (DBSKN) is Premium-Gold Sponsor of Sugar Mas 49.
The Development Bank of St. Kitts-Nevis (DBSKN) will continue its long standing partnership with the St Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee by contributing EC$30,000 to Sugar Mas 49. The Bank has been instrumental in preserving the cultural aspect of National Carnival for many years.
In accepting the sponsorship proceeds from Marketing Officer of The Development Bank, Ms Chantelle Rochester, Shannon Hawley (Chair of SKNNCC) indicated that the Bank has been one of the most dedicated and committed sponsors of Sugar Mas throughout the years.
She added “We deeply appreciate the assistance from the Development Bank of St. Kitts-Nevis. We have seen how the Development Bank has contributed significantly to nation building and we are honored for the Bank to be on board for Sugar Mas 49 in spite of all of the challenges faced with the Covid-19 Pandemic”.
The SKNNCC looks forward to working with The Development Bank to bring an enjoyable Sugar Mas virtual experience to residents of St Kitts and Nevis as well as to show Carnival lovers world wide what Sugar Mas has to offer.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, October 28, 2020 (DBSKN) — Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis is once again the platinum sponsor of King Socrates’ Legends Calypso Tent whose rehearsals opened Tuesday evening October 27 at the OOJJ’s Complex in Camps.
“I want to thank the management of Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for once again partnering with the Legends Calypso Tent where we can host a feature of a carnival, the calypso show, and competition,” said decorated calypsonian and reigning Senior Calypso King, Mr Sylvester Hodge who is better known by his stage name King Socrates.
Reflecting on Legends Calypso Tent’s relationship with the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, the seven times National Calypso Monarch, King Socrates told the Bank’s Marketing and Product Development Officer, Ms Chantelle Rochester, that it has been the only bank that has come on board and supported Legends Calypso Tent as a platinum sponsor now for the last four years.
In presenting the sponsorship cheque of $10,000 to Mr Sylvester Hodge, Ms Rochester, informed him that the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis is cognisant of the fact that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis are proud of their culture and will go to great lengths to preserve it for future generations.
“The Board of Directors, Management and Staff at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis recognise you as one of our great cultural icons,” noted Ms Rochester. “It is heart-warming to note that at the Legends Calypso Tent you are passing on your calypso skills of writing and performing to persons who will be competing against you for the Senior Monarch crown. The Federation cannot ask for a better cultural icon.”
At OOJJs Complex on Tuesday evening, Band Leader Mr Gavin Charles said the rehearsals will continue for the rest of the week as the calypsonians at the Legends Tent practice for the up-coming season, noting that at the tent they have over the years always felt that calypso needed to be modernised. Also present was Legends Calypso Tent’s M.C. Ms Sandra Byron, better known as Sandra B.
“This year we were given that opportunity, so we came together tonight to start getting prepared for the show that is slated for the 14th of next month,” said Mr Charles. “So we came to start gelling together, meeting the new calypsonians as we have a lot of new members. A lot of the calypsonians were introduced to us tonight and we basically started scheduling rehearsals for the rest of the week.”
One of the new calypsonians is 20-year-old Ms Nyailah Walters, who is an aspiring local R&B artiste whose music is produced by King Socrates. She explained that she decided to take part because calypso is a part of her heritage, as it speaks a lot about St. Kitts and Nevis.
“In terms of expectations I expect that it will not be an easy road to be honest – there will be some challenges,” said Ms Walters. “I will do it with an open mind, but I know I will be nervous about it especially coming closer to the whole competition, knowing that I have to compete against the legends.”
She added: “The whole other frightening part about it would be the fact that I have to go up and if I make it to the finals I will have to be competing against King Socrates. He is a whole legend by himself to be honest, and I really admire him a lot. So if I will win or lose I will accept the whole experience as a journey that I have taken to become a better person and know more about myself and my whole heritage.”
According to King Socrates, there are two calypso tents, the other being Proud Sounds, and will start on Saturday November 14. He has 17 calypsonians in his tent, and they are hoping to utilise the Carnival City where it can be better managed, and with tickets being sold ahead of time they will know who will attend. That way, if there will be a need for contact tracing thereafter it will be easy to monitor that one location.
Due to the continued threat by the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that Emergency Powers Regulations were extended from October 19 to December 31, 2020, King Socrates noted: “If there is a number set by the NEOC that this is our cut-off limit for persons attending, we will have to be governed by the protocols.”
He observed: “We will have the calypso tents, then eliminations one and two, from that they select fifteen calypsonians to go up against the reigning monarch, that happens to be myself, So we will have sixteen persons competing on that night doing one song, whereas on the final night normally we just have eight, doing two songs. So they won’t have any semi-finals, from eliminations we go straight to the finals, sixteen calypsonians doing their best to capture the monarch.”
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