CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – WITH the 2017 Culturama activities slated to begin later this month, the Planning Committee on Friday (July 14) opened the recently-renovated Cultural Complex in Charlestown, Nevis.
The million-dollar complex, which was completed ahead of the start of the month’s activities, would be able to accommodate more people than before, according to Culturama Chairman Antonio Abonaty Liburd.
Speaking with SKNVibes via telephone, Liburd explained that the village has been in its present location for the past 22 years, during which time it did not see any major renovation work being undertaken.
As a result, the Committee took a firm stance earlier this year to have the venue upgraded in time for the major Cultural event on Nevis, he stated.
“When we came in January, we found a lot of termites and rodents,” he said. “A lot of the booths, the wooden structures that existed here were not up to scratch. It was not what we would want for a Cultural Village – government facility. And so we asked the owners of the booths to remove out of them and we began working.”
Liburd disclosed that they began demolishing structures at the venue in late March and had completed works at the complex this month.
The venue would play host to a number of fringe activities for the month-long cultural extravaganza, according to the Chairman.
Liburd pointed out that the new area would boast 10 containerized booths that would be used as food outlets. He also stated that the popular Bull Pen has remained and that too was upgraded, while major work has been done to the stage and surrounding areas – as it now has seven dressing rooms, five more than in previous years.
He revealed that they have added a Command Post within the venue, owing to an incident that occurred several years ago that resulted in the death of an individual.
“I think that it was about four or five years ago we had a murder here in the Cultural Village and, the police, because they did not have an elevated area to have a full view of the village, they were not able to see the person who committed the murder.”
In discussions with the police, Liburd said they indicated that they needed an elevated area overlooking the entire proceedings.
The Chairman told this media house that with the new and improved venue, they expect more people to be present at the village throughout the July to August event – thus they have improved the toilet facilities.
Patron experience has also gone up, as the Committee had also included a Culturama Lounge - which is a raise platform on two of the containers.
One major issue that has been addressed, according to the Chairman, is that of adequate lighting.
He noted that, like himself, many people would have refused to attend events at that location because of security concerns, and that has been addressed in the remodelled facility.
This year’s Culturama kicks off on July 29 and runs until August 12 at various venues around the island.
Events slated for the Festival include the Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant, King of the Turntables Culturama DJ Competition, International Drag Racing Meet, Glow Fete and the Miss CSS Pageant.
