Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry

Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry and his wife Mrs. Myrthlyn 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.

 

Chairman of Culturama 2008 Mr. Halstead Byron

"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. 

 

"We need to do something about these boys and so I am speaking to the fathers and the mothers.  Keep our boys involved in positive things, otherwise they are going to end up in negative

Talented Youth participants (l-r) St. Thomas' Primary School, Charlestown Primary School and St. Johns Primary School. Missing are Gingerland Primary School and VOJN Primary School.

thing and you know some of the problems we are having right now.  I haven't heard one girl rob anybody yet, it's all boys.  So the girls are singing and the boys are robbing.  There is a problem with our boys, let's do something about them," Mr. Parry said.

 

Chairman Byron addressed some of the challenges that the Festival Secretariat faced this year but ensured that final plans looked positive.

 

"This has been a very challenging year for the Foundation and also for the Culturama committee but I am happy to say that at this point we are very pleased with the way that things have come together and augurs well for a very exciting and big Culturama 2008," he said.

 

Mr. Byron also recorded the Foundation's gratitude to the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) for its contribution towards the restoration and refurbishment of the Cultural Complex, the

Jr. Calypsonians (l-r) Master Husani "The Inspirer" Parris, Ms. Yahsulazie "Singing Sue" Grant, Ms. Jazze "Lady Sunshine" Queeley-Connor and Ms. Kitana "Princess Nature" Hanley. Missing are Ms. Nakita "Lady Kitty" Thibou, Ms. Chevelle "Little Ice" Phillip and Master Zaequan "The Finisher" Nisbett

Cultural Village and the Cultural Centre.

 

Meantime, member of the Juniour Calypso Show sub committee Ms. Alison Dore introduced the participants for this year's show which would be held on July 30.

 

The participants are Ms. Nakita Thibou alias "Lady Kitty", Ms. Chevelle Phillip alias "Little Ice", Ms. Kitana Hanley alias "Princess Nature", Ms. Yahsulazie Grant alias "Singing Sue", Ms. Jazze Queeley-Connor alias "Lady Sunshine", Master Zaequan Nisbett alias "The Finisher" and reigning king Master Husani Parris alias "The Inspirer". 

 

Chairperson of the Talented Youth Pageant sub committee Ms. Marva Pinney, indicated that while her committee started preparations in April this year, it experienced some setbacks.  She advised that her committee was able to secure the confirmation of five schools for the show.

 

They are the Charlestown, the St. Thomas', the Violet O. Jeffers Nicholls, the St. John's and the

Miss Culture Queen 2008 contestants (l-r) Ms. Roslyn Berkley, Ms. Shanyra Richardson and Ms. Shamilla Wilkinson

Gingerland Primary Schools.  The show would be held on Thursday July 31.

 

The Miss Culture Queen contestants also attended the event and were re-introduced to the public.  They were Ms. Tanisha Hendrickson, Ms. Shamilla Wilkinson, Ms. Shanyra Richardson and Ms. Roslyn Berkley. 

 

This is the third year that Hon. Joseph Parry hosted the Premier's Cocktail for the Culturama participants.