BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALL roads lead to the Basseterre Ferry Terminal tomorrow (Apr. 6) where the annual Basil Henderson Easter Monday Aquatic Meet is scheduled to take place from 9:00 a.m.
As usual, this year’s event will be declared open by former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Lloyd Lazar and invocation by Pastor Dr. Eustace Rawlins.
The annual event is organised by Cultural Preservationist Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett and a small team of dedicated of 4-H members, including Earl Clarke who has been a member of that august body for some 40 years.
Nisbett, who is also the coordinator of the event, said that in addition to the traditional swimming races, boat racing and greasy pole climbing etc., this year attendees would see the inclusion of a beach volleyball competition “where all are welcome to participate”.
He also said that the Cultural Ambassadors and a number of well-established local calypsonians are scheduled to provide entertainment in the afternoon.
Nisbett further said that prizes for every event are “up for grabs” and there would be sponsorship for the greasy pole events.
“The popular greasy pole competitions have attracted sponsorship from Mr. Thomas Williams of the Scenic Railway, who is giving the cash award for the Vertical Greasy Pole, while RAM’S Supermarket and John Richard will each donate one ham for the Horizontal Greasy Pole event.”
The Cultural Preservationist declared that he is in the process of completing a book on 55 years of Aquatic Sports in St. Kitts.
“This book will be presented at a later date and some of the proceeds will be going towards two scholarships; one to the Newtown Primary and the other to the Irish Town Primary, which are for one underprivileged child in each of these schools.”
This is the 57th year of the Aquatic Sports Meet which commemorates the life and times of the late Basil Henderson, a venerable patriarch who gave his whole being to the 4-H Organisation that he started and nurtured in the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
