Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry

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.

Mr. Nehemiah Neal (black cap) Culturama 2007 Patron

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.”

Mr. Hensley Daniel Minister of Culture on Nevis

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.

Some of the invitees at The Premier’s Cocktail at the Old Manor Hotel in Gingerland

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.