January 9th, 2019 -- During the week of December 27th thru 30th, 2018, as part of Sugar Mas 47, the St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC) hosted what was labeled as the Caribbean Carnival Chairperson Convention. The Forum was designed to bring Chairpersons, Presidents, Directors, etc., of various Caribbean Carnivals together to discuss regional integration from a Carnival perspective. As shown below in Table 1, 7 territories were represented including St. Kitts and Nevis. Amongst the many Sponsors, the Royal St. Kitts Hotel was the major Sponsor, who assisted with Hotel Accommodations, Convention Services, and Catering. The SKNNCC thanks the Royal St. Kitts Hotel for being a sterling sponsor of National Carnival annually.
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2018 Caribbean Carnival Chairperson Convention Attendance
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Name
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Island
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Organization
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Position / Title
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Shayne Thompson
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Anguilla
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Anguilla Summer Festival Committee
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Deputy Chair ASF
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C. Lisa Rey
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Anguilla
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Anguilla Summer Festival Committee
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Chair Lady
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Ricardo Adams
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St. Vincent and The Grenadines
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Carnival Development Corporation
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Chairman
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Dwayne Grazette
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Barbados
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D.G. Events Creations & Concepts Inc
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Managing Director
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JAMES MAEVA
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Saint-Martin
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FCDSM
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General Secretary
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Claudine LAKE-MINGAU
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Saint-Martin (French)
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FCDSM - Festivites Carnavalesques de Saint-Martin
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Treasurer/Pageant Coordinator
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Luciana RASPAIL
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Saint-Martin (French)
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FCDSM - Festivites Carnavalesques de Saint-Martin
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President
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Charles Rollan
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Saint-Martin (French)
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FCDSM - Festivites Carnavalesques de Saint-Martin
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Public Relations
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Paula Gordon
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St. Maarten
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DASTRU
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Member
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Val Henry
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St. Kitts
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SKNNCC
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Advisor
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Noah G. Mills
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St. Kitts
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SKNNCC
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Chairman
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Allister Williams
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St. Kitts
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Ministry of Tourism
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Executive Director
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Troy Biff Mills
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St. Kitts
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Department of Cutlure
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Director
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Hon. Eric Evelyn
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Nevis
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Ministry of Culture
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Minister
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Hon. Shawn K. Richards
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St. Kitts
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Ministry of Culture
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Minister
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The Convention was guided by several Objectives. First and foremost, was the regional exchange of cultures, ideas, and other pertinent information related to the National Festivals of each Country. Another objective was hinged to the standardization and certification of Competition Judges at the local and regional levels. This would see our Judges for Calypso, Soca, and Calypso Competitions traveling the Caribbean to assist with transparency and equity. Another aim of the Convention was to create networks and circuits for Artistes to travel the region expanding our brand of music, their professional Artiste Brands, our Culture, and our Carnival, as a Tourism Product.
The Convention was deemed a success by all, to the point where St. Vincent has already agreed to host the Convention for 2019, during their Summer Festival, Vincie Mas. Further, plans are also being made for some local Calypsonians, Soca Artists, and Bands to travel to French St. Martin in mid-February to perform at their Festival. Similar exchanges are being planned for Anguilla and Barbados as well, later this year.
In commenting on the Convention, Noah Mills, the St. Kitts Nevis National Carnival Chairman touted the Convention as a huge success. This was evidenced by the attendance numbers, at a time of the year when many commit their time toward family and not traveling for business. Additionally, the substantive exchanges have put all Attendees in a better position as it relates to rolling out their Carnivals. Further, with the 2019 deliverables agreed to by the Attendees, it shows that the Convention will serve as a trampoline to augment the overall quality of each Country’s Carnival. Mills went on to thank the respective Governments, Carnival Committees and Representatives for willingness
Disclaimer
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
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