BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AN important milestone in the life of the St. Christopher Heritage Society (SCHS) will be celebrated in grand style tonight (Jul. 18) at the Society’s 20th Anniversary Cultural Presentation and Banquet.
The momentous event is slated to be held at the Ocean Terrace Inn, and will be under the distinguished patronage of Governor General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian. Tonight’s event is anticipated to be full of surprises as a variety show, door prizes and silent auctions await the attendees.
The sumptuous banquet will be preceded by a cultural presentation and cocktails starting from 7:00 p.m. Performances by Jade Orchid, St. Kitts Director of Culture and renowned poet Creighton Pencheon, the regionally-acclaimed Okolo Tegremantine and the famed Alamoulou are expected to whet the appetites of all attendees.
The celebration will continue until 10:30 p.m., with special presentations being made by SCHS President Jacqueline Armony and the Minister of State responsible for Tourism and Culture, Senator Richard Skerritt. Both speakers are expected to trace the development of the society over the past 20 years and identify the best way forward.
Speaking to SKNVibes, SCHS member and learned historian Larry Armony said it is a very important milestone for the society, as it allows its members to look back at the many accomplishments it has made over the last two decades.
“We are celebrating this 20-year mark as well as, of course, the achievements along the way. We also want to use this as a platform to project to the wider community what the Heritage Society does,” he said.
Armony explained that the society, formed in 1989, was founded because it was felt that there was a strong need to promote greater awareness and understanding of the natural and cultural resources of the country. He added that the 20th anniversary should provide a new opportunity for the group to reach out to the public to spread its message.
“We felt that very little was known of the heritage of the country by the young, emerging population, but we through this forum can share knowledge of our heritage, which is fundamental in maintaining national identity and integrity. This would be a means whereby the value and richness of our heritage can be disseminated,” he stated.
He said that the society has undertaken a number of events and activities to safeguard both the tangible and intangible elements of heritage, adding that tonight’s event will seek to educate and inform the public as to past achievements and future goals of the society.
