Basseterre, St. Kitts - In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes Xpress Events St Kitts CEO Shannon Hawley discussed her event management company’s most recent venture for Carnival 2010, Mudsunami J’ouvert Band. Hawley stated categorically that Mudsunami J’ouvert is not about winning any official prizes or any accolades for being the J’ouvert band boasting the most revelers.
Rather, in keeping with Xpress Events’ mission of producing premium events of the highest quality, Mudsunami J’ouvert is solely concerned with ensuring that revelers have the most intimate, stress-free, safe, and exciting J’ouvert experience.
Hawley believes that J’ouvert (and Carnival in general) should not be about malicious competitive mud-slinging. Xpress Events is not in a competition with anyone states Hawley who responded to questions about the possible conflict of interest in her role as Deputy Chair of the St Kitts Nevis National Carnival Committee and Partner in Mudsunami J’ouvert Troupe.
She is quoted as saying “[w]hen I was approached about being a part of the Carnival Committee, I indicated loudly and clearly to the powers-that-be that I intended to produce a J’ouvert band for Carnival 2010/11. With full knowledge of this, I was still encouraged to join the Committee, because the bottom line for both roles was to contribute to production of an improved St Kitts Carnival.”
She continued: “[b]ands should NOT be in negative competition, they should focus their positive energies on providing the best experience for their revelers, so that St Kitts Carnival can continue to grow and become a premier event not only for Kittitians and Nevisians, but for all West Indies to visit and enjoy”
Mudsunami J’ouvert launched on
2nd October and has continuously promised that the J’ouvert experience will not begin or end on J’ouvert morning. With one of its sponsors Digicel, Mudsunami J’ouvert held a event entitled Short Shorts 2 at Bobsys on 20th November and will continue to collaborate with various promoters over the carnival period.
Hawley ended by reinforcing that Mudsunami J’ouvert is about all revelers having the best mix of music, premium drinks, mud, paint, and other comforts such as mobile toilets and "sober zone". Particularly in the current environment in St Kitts, safety is also of utmost importance; therefore Mudsunami J’ouvert will have the band roped off for its revelers with a strong security presence. All of this will contribute to an overall unforgettable experience.
