BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE 18th edition of the Green Valley Festival was officially opened last night (Jun. 5) at the Cayon Community Centre during a Fundraising Dinner and Appreciation Ceremony.
The new Chairman of the Green Valley Festival Committee, Jerome ‘Jebu’ Isaac, said that he was delighted to be elected in that position because of the plans he has in making a few changes to better the Festival’s experience.
“Well, last year’s Festival, we kind of cut back a lot because of a number of incidents, but we bounced back this year to try and make things better, Isaac said.
The Chairman also said that this was the first time the Fundraising Dinner was held and it would be one of the new additions to the Green Valley Calendar.
Another change that was made this year is the annual Calypso Show, which is said to have been cancelled due to the late submissions of contents by the calypsonians, among other difficulties. However, the team has replaced that event with a ‘local night’ show scheduled for tomorrow (Jun. 7).
“We will be having a concert dubbed ‘Keep it Real’, which will feature local artistes from the area such as Hi-Light and I-Mark, among some others who will be there,” Isaac said.
Five beauties from the community will also compete for the 2014 Miss Green Valley Pageant tonight and the Cayon Hard Court.
Also speaking at last night’s even was Deputy Leader of the People’s Action Movement Hon. Eugene Hamilton, who congratulated Isaac on earning the Chairmanship and urged the Committee to create events that would involve the community’s youth.
“When most of the other festivals had died, Green Valley was still around,” Hamilton said, adding that the Festival, unfortunately, did not escape the economic constrains of the Federation.
Hamilton suggested to the Committee that spelling bee and essay competitions should be included in the 20th edition, which he said would help to get youths from the community to be involved in positive activities.
