BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Green Valley Festival has recently elected a new committee and its office bearers are already working to make this year’s festival the best ever since its inception.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, Chairperson Douglas Wattley said that over the past five years the Green Valley Festival was on a downward trend and the new committee intends to revitalise the annual event with assistance from the community.
“The Green Valley Festival is essentially back. Over the past five years, we have seen a downward trajectory of this annual event and the new committee is mandated to revive and revitalise the festival for which many people at home and abroad prepare annually to participate in the various activities.
“We have already started working on the Planning Phase which comprises three categories. Phase One is a Community Survey which will be done over this weekend (Jan. 28-29) by means of seeking the opinions and feedback from the community on how to make the festival better.
“Phase Two is aimed at analysing the information gathered from the survey and use the best of it in our Strategic Plan for the next five years; while Phase Three is to simply develop an Annual Calendar of Events bent on attracting more participants and patrons,” Wattley said.
He noted that the Election of Office Bearers was held on Tuesday (Jan. 17) at the Cayon Community Centre and in addition to him being elected, Joya Herbert is his Deputy while Shanna Herbert was elected Treasurer, Saskia Browne - Assistant Treasurer, Suzette Hodge - Secretary, and her Assistant is Petra McSheene.
Wattley however noted that the position of Public relations Officer remains unfilled “until one or more candidates volunteer for that office”.
He informed that eight persons were elected to fill a similar number of permanent Sub-Committees.
Listed those persons and the Sub-Committees they will lead:
• Marketing and Fundraising Sub-Committee – Teresa Hamilton;
• Calypso Sub-Committee – Mark O’Loughlin;
• Queen Show Sub-Committee – Linda Demming;
• Opening Night Sub-Committee – Shirley Adams;
• Site Development Sub-Committee – Jerome Isaac;
• Street Activities Sub-committee – Kiethly Gaskin;
• Gospel Sub-Committee – Solomon Morton; and
• Creative Designs Sub-Committee – Tamario ‘Minky’ Williams
Following their election and before commencing the tasks ahead of them, members of the new committee Sunday, last, attended a religious service at the Church of God in Cayon.
The 2012 Green Valley Festival is scheduled to commence on Thursday, May 17 and concludes on Monday, May28.
