BASSETERE St. Kitts, May 1st 2012 - Following the untimely passing of Green Valley Chairman Mr. Vernon Benjamin in October 2011, the entire Green Valley community was plunged into mourning. Many wondered about the future of the fifteen year old community festival that withstood mountains of challenges to become the premiere community celebration in the federation.
Death, the inevitable end that will befall each of us, but whose unannounced arrival we loathe, affects an entire community. Immediate relatives yearn for time and space in an attempt to overcome the depth of the grief and the intensity of the pain caused by death. Close friends have difficulty coping with the loss of a special loved one and the immediate community also suffers amidst the scourge of death.
Vernon's yeoman service to his community of Cayon is a life lesson in selflessness. He gave of his time and service to others as he too was a beneficiary of the hard work of those who came before him.
For fifteen consecutive years, the Green Valley Festival has been a solid community festival that celebrates the culture, pride and spirit of the people from Canada Estate, Keys, Cayon, and Ottleys village. The festival has had a long-standing tradition of bringing villagers together and there has been a vivacious spirit that hinges on community outreach and just plain old good times.
Green Valley Festival, the brainchild of Ms. Patricia "Anna" Liburd, a proud Cayon woman, made its infamous debut in 1996. From its inception, the Green Valley Festival was positioned as the unique alliance between a village and its neighbors to celebrate the spirit of community.
The rolling hills of Bayfords and Greenhill, the beauty of the landscape spanning the villages of Canada Estate and Keys in the East and Ottleys Village in the West, the free-spirited nature of the residents, the name calling, the sports rivalries, the stalwarts, the friends, the visitors and more all fused into an energetic collaboration that would evolve into the "people's festival".
In recent times, the young people of our federation have heard an earful regarding their involvement in far from productive activities. Still, it is the young people of this sometimes challenged community who proved their metal and might in keeping the Green Valley fire alight.
The youthful Shanna Herbert, who took on the role of Treasurer several years ago, put her best foot forward and galvanized the members of the festival committee and appealed to other individuals to join the campaign to keep the flame of the festival burning bright.
By mid-January of this year, an admirable blend of experience and youth became what is now the new and improved Green Valley Festival committee.
Who are these men and women who have come together in the spirit of community to essentially give back to a community in need of true patriots?
Under the astute leadership of Chairman Mr. Douglas Wattley and Deputy Chairwoman Miss Joya Herbert, the cast of “Green Giants” includes:
Miss Saskia Browne, Assistant Treasurer
Miss Suzette Hodge, Secretary
Miss Petra McSheene, Assistant Secretary
Miss Teresa Hamilton, Marketing and Fundraising Sub-Committee
Mr. Mark O’Loughlin, Calypso Sub-committee
Miss Linda Demming Queen Show Sub-committee
Miss Shirley Adams, Opening Night Sub-committee
Mr. Jerome Isaac, Site Development Sub-committee
Mr. Keithly Gaskin, Street Activities Sub-committee
Mr. Solomon Morton, Gospel Sub-committee
Tamario “Minky” Williams, Creative Designs Sub-committee
These men and women are the faces of our community, our present and future leaders; bright, talented, and committed individuals ready to take the Green Valley experience to another level. Their efforts will not only help to grow the festival but also to honour the memories of those who gave of their time in service to a community from which thousands have benefited. It is through their work that the accomplishments of Brenda Burroughs and Vernon Benjamin and many others are recognized. This is the positive cycle that is being nurtured in our community.
From May 18 to May 28, 2012, come experience the thrill and excitement that brews in the magnificent former town of Cayon. In this year's mix, ALL of our people will be celebrated: our blossoming youths, the federation's future, our seniors, the pioneers of our nation, as well as our blend of not so young but never too old. It’s a celebration of all of us. The attractions range from family events, Children's Time, a Gospel Extravaganza, a Heritage Celebration, the showcasing of youthful and experienced Calypsonians, jaw dropping beauty Queens to Community Cohesion, Jouvert, thumping local music and much more.
Green Valley is a celebration of the strong will of the people of Cayon and its environs. Often discouraged, many a times criticized, still the people of the Green Valley rise. In the spirit of community and in honour of all of its fallen heroes, the Green Valley flame will continue to burn.
Here’s to another sixteen years and more of “Community Development Through Cultural Involvement.”
Special Note: This year's Green Valley Festival will be void of a special woman who put her heart and soul in the calypso ring year after year. The hard work of Ms. Andrea "Singing Angie" Walters will be deeply missed.
The young popular DJ and community postman Tasif Nisbett will also be noticeably missing from this year's celebration. We trust that their contributions to the festival and the community will NEVER be forgotten. May they rest in eternal peace.
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