Nationals in Atlanta celebrate 25th Anniversary of Independence
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| Kittitian displaying national pride at Camp Springfield following the Ceremonial Parade at Warner Parl on SEptember 19th 2008 (Photo by Erasmus Williams) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 29TH 2008 (CUOPM) – Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, Sen. the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt, in addressing a spectacular gala evening in Atlanta to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Federation’s Independence traced the key challenges and accomplishments through the ongoing journey for national self determination, including what he described as the recent bold, but timely, closure of the 300 year old sugar industry and a greater focus on the tourism sector in the strategic transformation of the national economic mix.
The weekend of celebrations was hosted by the St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Atlanta (SKANAA) at the famed Sugarloaf Country Club, according to South Florida Caribbean News.com.
Highlighting the evening’s entertainment was the surprise appearance of Masquerade folklore dancers followed by a rousing performance by headline entertainer King Konris, the three time National Calypso King and recent winner of the St. Kitts & Nevis Silver Jubilee Independence Calypso contest.
Thanking the large gathering for their unflagging efforts to promote and support their homeland, Senator Skerritt challenged the St Kitts and Nevis nationals in the Atlanta area to take a more pro-active role in the nation building of their homeland in the next 25 years.
“We need to find new and more assertive ways to strengthen the role of the Diaspora in nation building, through the mutually beneficial deployment of your individual and collective skills, career experiences and financial assets. While St. Kitts and Nevis may not be your physical home at this particular point in time, it always has been and will always be your spiritual home, with your rights of citizenship enshrined in our constitution,” he concluded.
The celebration flowed into Saturday with the Seventh Annual Kittitian and Nevisian Grand Picnic at Wade Walker Park. While traditional foods, fun, friends and family were the order of the day, the indubitable highlight was the Masquerade dance clinic for the children. ~~Adz:Right~~
With the glee and enthusiasm that only the young can bring to learning, the magic of the Masquerade dancers, with their intricate and rhythmic steps centuries old in origin, was introduced to yet another generation of Kittitians and Nevisians in an unprecedented masquerade dance workshop for the kids of nationals living abroad.
The Atlanta weekend of events came to a fitting close with a special church service of Thanksgiving on Sunday. St Kitts and Nevis Nationals in major cities of North America, the Caribbean and England have been hosting similar celebrations throughout the month of September with the next major event slated for London, England during the upcoming weekend.
