CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (JULY 17, 2009) -- Minister with responsibility for Culture on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel urged Nevisians to use the island’s culture to add economic value.
Mr. Daniel gave the advice on Tuesday at a Cocktail reception at Mount Nevis Hotel, hosted by Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry, for participants in the 35th annual Culturama Festival.
The Festival is the island’s leading cultural celebration and will run from July 24th - to August 4th under the theme “Culturama 35 Keep De Culture Alive”. The Patron is Mr. Owen Bussue-Hendrickson of Butlers Village.
“Culturama allows us in Nevis to develop that great appreciation for our country, our island, our people and a great appreciation for people…bear in mind that the persons who started Culturama really intended for us to develop a deep appreciation for our cultural heritage and they wanted us importantly, to participate in Culturama.
“As I have said in the past, it is culture that made China great, it is culture that made the United States great and it is culture that can make Nevis great,” he said.
The Culture Minister who is also responsible for Social Development also pointed to the psychological benefits of Culturama and cited the season provided a cooling off period for the people of Nevis.
He said he was aware that countries that were void of carnival or cultural festivities had reported high levels of violence and other forms of social disturbances.
Meantime, Mr. Daniel used the opportunity to single out the contribution of the six Culturama Queen Show contestants dubbed the “Sensational Six”.
He urged them to utilise the opportunities that they would get from the Culturama Festival for their personal development. He said the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) would endeavour to assist them in the future.
“The girls who take part in the annual queen show deserve our highest commendation. We should make every effort to ensure that they are employed, to make sure that they get the opportunity to study, to make sure they get the opportunity for self development.
“In our government, we are all about that and we want to commit to ensuring that the girls do the things that they like to do to develop themselves because after the show in early August, we don’t want to forget them. I want to say to you that we will remain open to help you, to guide you and to ensure that you continue to be an ambassador for Nevis,” he said.
