May 17th, 2016 -- A new St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC) was installed in September 2015. They were charged with the responsibility of planning and hosting Carnival 2015-16 or Sugar Mas 44. Guided by this mandate, Carnival was officially launched on November 13th, 2015, and ran until January 2016. However, one of this National Carnival Committee’s goals is to ensure that the Carnival Brand extends beyond the November to January time window that it has been restricted to traditionally. Thus, the first quarter in 2016 saw the roll out of a number of carnival-assisted or -hosted events.
For example, the SKNNCC financially assisted Nicha “Nicha B” Byron, the reigning Groovy Soca King and Super Soca Monarch, and his Manager, as they traveled to Trinidad in January, to represent the Federation in the 2016 - International Soca Competition. Although Nicha B did not manage to get into the Finals, the SKNCC, in collaboration with the Department of Culture, hosted a Welcome Reception at the VIP Lounge for the returning Soca Ambassador on January 22nd, 2016.
A similar Welcome Reception at the same venue was also held a few weeks later, for Messrs Omandy Byron, MJ Byron, and Kazrano Gumbs, who would have traveled to join the Supernovas Steel Orchestra in the Trinidad & Tobago Panorama, who competed in the Large Conventional Steel Orchestras Competition. With the assistance of these three local Musicians, the Supernovas Steel Orchestra and whose Musical Arranger was Amrit Samaroo, placed 1st Runner Up, losing by a single point.
Subsequently, February saw the SKNNCC assisting the National Queen, Ms. Orngel Erskine, with her Pre-Valentine’s Luncheon, which was held in honour of the residents of the Cardin Home. The Committee, as well as, several Carnival Chairpersons volunteered with the logistics, gave financial support and donated equipment. (See Photo). Later in February, on Friday 26th, the SKNNCC hosted the Sugar Mas 44 Prize Giving on Bank Street, where gifts, prizes, incentives, and accolades were given to the many worthy participants, winners, sponsors, and other Sugar Mas 44 stakeholders.
March was also a very active month for the SKNNCC. For example, a few winners from Sugar Mas 44 served in a ceremonial capacity at both the National Primary School and National Secondary School Athletic Meets. Adorned in their crowns, Kadeema Blanchette (Ms. Talented Teen Queen), Cecil “Rock-a-Fello Rock (Extempo King), Orngel Erskine (National Queen), Tiandra Francis (Teenage Junior Calypso Monarch), and Terron Webbe (Primary School Junior Calypso King) assisted in presenting medals and trophies to the Winners at the Games. With March being dubbed the Teenage Winners month, Kadeema Blanchette and Terron Webbe again stood center stage.
In mid-March, the SKNNCC then teamed up with Public Works to assist in the construction of staging in Sandy Point, as a way of enhancing that Community’s Black Sand Festival, an annual Festival hosted by a non-profit Group called SPIRIT. The resources and assistance from the SKNNCC were used to construct the VIP Lounge and Judges’ holding area. The Carnival Committee also supplied decorative material that was used to fabricate some of the costumes that were donned on their Black Sand Bang a Lang Parade Day, Swimwear Pageant.
To end March, on Thursday 31st, the SKNNCC hosted a Kite Making Seminar for the Children at the St. Christopher’s Children’s Home at the Craft House. When presented, the idea was quickly embraced by Mr. Austin Weekes and the staff at the Craft, who offered tremendous support in making the Event a success. The day saw the children, Carnival Chairpersons, and Staff at the Craft House demonstrate their creative skills.
April saw the continuation of the Kite Adventure, as the children were able to exhibit and fly their kites on the Children’s Home FUN Day, held by the SKNNCC at the Gardens Playing Field (Irish Town) on Saturday April 2nd. TNO sounds donated their time and expertise by entertaining the audience at the venue. Several of the Carnival Chairpersons also donated money and other supplies to ensure that the event was successful. Some included, Jonelle Rawlins, Yvette Brown, Rohanda Devent, Jade Johnson, Mikey Dunrod, Noah Mills and Henry Brown, just to name a few. The Kite-related events were attended by Mr. Christopher Herbert, former Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Mr. Stanley Knight, the current Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Mr. Troy Mills, Director of Culture, Mr. Austin Weekes, General Manager of Craft House, and the Hon. Shawn Richards.
Richards, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister with the responsibility for Culture, also took time out to participate in the Carnival Committee Chairperson 60-meter race, placing second to Mikey Dunrod. Kevin Welsh came 3rd, with Noah Mills, a close 4th, but there were only 4 runners in the event.
To close the event all participants, donors, and organizers signed a GIGANTIC KITE which was delivered to the St. Christopher’s Children Home as a symbolic of partnership between them and the St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee.
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