BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE atmosphere was almost like that of the famous St. Kitts National Carnival J’Ouvert held every December, as many claimed that the Green Valley J ‘Ouvert celebration held yesterday (May 24) was a wonderful experience.
Although the jam, which was scheduled to start at 6:00 a.m. was some two hours late with a small crowd, everyone seemed to have had a good time jamming behind the sounds of the Kollision Band.
However, some two hours into the jam the crowd had significantly grown to hundreds of revellers prancing and getting on ‘bad’.
The event was however marred by a few glitches, including a few fist fights that were quickly dealt with by security personnel and the non-participation of the Higher Heights Band, which was seen in the vicinity of the Cayon Police Station. It was unclear to
SKNVibes why the band was unable to participate in the J ‘Ouvert. The music of the Kollision Band was so enticing that revellers followed it wherever it went under the hot mid-morning sun.
The band performed music off its 2009/2010 Carnival album and also those of other local bands. At one point in the jam, the band announced ‘water’ and there was a mini wet-down similar to that during December’s J’Ouvert with Ronnie Rascal’s troupe on Bank Street.
The jam ended close to 12 mid-day.
Corporate company LIME has been sponsoring Green Valley for several years and, according to General Manager David Lake, they are delighted to be accorded the opportunity to be associated with what is perhaps the best organised local festival after carnival.
“Whenever community and family come together to celebrate their culture and character in a wholesome way, LIME is happy to be there to lend its support,” he said. “I wish to congratulate the organising committee of the Green Valley Festival and the proud villagers of Cayon for once again putting on another splendid show.”
This year the festival celebrated 14 years of “Promoting Community Development through Cultural Involvement”.
A number of activities were held to celebrate the event, including an official opening ceremony in collaboration with the St. Kitts
Music Festival Promotion Committee, Queen and Junior Calypso Shows, Senior Calypso Monarch Competition and International Night, which featured Jamaica’s Black Ryno.
