BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Saddlers Village community is ready to host this year’s festival under the theme ‘Working together to fight crime, Saddle Fiesta 2009’. The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow, Friday, September 4.
According to 24-year-old organizer Diana Collins, this year’s theme reflects the belief that coming together as a community to address societal issues can help reduce crime in The Federation.
“In order to fight crime, we have to come together; it is a unity effort,” Collins said. “We in the community hear people saying many things but we seldom hear them saying they will come together to help. We have to put our heads together,” she added.
Collins said that although the event, which usually starts in August, is off to a late start, the week of activities will begin and end with a bang in the proud tradition of Saddle Fiesta. Most of the activities will be held on the grounds of Saddlers Primary School.
Tomorrow, September 4, Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas – the sponsor of the festival – will declare Saddle Fiesta 2009 officially open.
A jam session featuring Kollision Band and DJ Shaggy will follow the opening ceremony.
On Saturday, September 5, community members will assemble for the Peace and Unity Talent Explosion before a dance party headlined by DJ Shaggy that night.
Collins explained that the talent explosion is open to anyone who wants to showcase performance ability in activities such as dancing, dramatizing, playing instruments, and singing. She said registration for the Peace and Unity Talent Explosion is free. Top performers will receive prizes.
Community members are expected to come out in their numbers for a church service at the Pentecostal Church of God in Saddlers on Sunday, September 6. At 2:00p.m. on Sunday, six teams will compete in a widely anticipated netball festival that will see teams from Saddlers, Cayon, and Tabernacle vying to be crowned the 2009 Saddle Fiesta Netball Champion.
On Monday, September 7, villagers will participate in a Community Cleanup.
Popular performer Masud Sadiki will host an “Up-Front Talk against Crime and Violence” on Tuesday, September 8.
Festival organizer Diana Collins commends Sadiki for his involvement not just in the town hall session but in the wider community. “He is a good role model,” she said, adding that, “A lot of young people look up to him and he’s very influential. There are also a lot of young men from the community who would like to become singers as well, so it will be good for them to hear from him.”
On Wednesday, September 9, Saddle Fiesta will showcase a Domino Tournament, where winners will be awarded trophies and even cases of drinks.
Collins said that due to this year’s late start, there will not be a Queen Show. She explained that prospective contestants had little time to prepare. So instead, the festival committee organized a ‘Queen of the Dancehall’ competition.
She said that five dancers have signed up already, and persons can sign up on the night of the event.
Collins said the dancers will be judged on how they move to various genres of music.
The winner of the dance contest will receive a cash prize of EC$500 and a cellular phone compliments of LIME, while the person who places second will receive EC$200 and a gift basket.
On Saturday, September 12, Grand Masters will thrill the crowd during the J’Ouvert and Parade of Troupes.
Persons interested in joining a troupe should contact Collins at 669-0642.
Diana Collins is also the organizer of the Guys At Risk outreach programme. This programme gets young men between the ages of 16-28 involved in the community.
She said that these young men are also active in organizing the festival events, and they look forward to Saddle Fiesta 2009.
They won’t have to wait too long, as it officially opens tomorrow.
“I just want to invite everyone to come on out on their best behaviour and to have a whale of a time,” Collins said.
The festival is sponsored by Prime Minister Douglas who Collins said encouraged her to organize the event because of her work with young people in the community.
