BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is always noteworthy to give commendations to people deserving of them, especially when they are youths participating in developmental projects and encouraging others to refrain from being involved in gangs and criminal activities.
This publication has identified a group of young people in the St. Peter’s Parish who are deserving of commendation for a community project they have recently initiated.
The group is called Uptown and has a 20-male/female membership ranging from age 23 to 29, drawn from the Lower Monkey Hill, Upper Monkey Hill and John England Project areas, and they are currently engaged in a beautification project along Main Street, Lower Monkey Hill, in the vicinity of the Public Bath.
Uptown was formed in late September 2010 and, in an effort to generate funds for the community-based organisation’s upkeep, a number of exciting parties were held at Douglas Estate.
This media house was told that one of the main goals of the organisation is to resuscitate the St. Peter’s Community Festival, which has been dormant for over one decade after being marred by instances of violence.
SKNVibes visited the beautification spot last Saturday morning (Jan. 12), where members of Uptown were all hard at work. Some of them were engaged in landscaping and bush-clearing tasks, while others were planting flowers and trees.
They indicated that plans are on the front burner to fence an area where two abandoned dilapidated houses are situated.
Work completed by Uptown to date include painting of the Public Bath, fencing the border of the ghaut on the left along the entrance of Main Street from the Main Road, which the members claimed could be hazardous to children who may want to play in that area.
The fencing of that area was creatively constructed from palette wood, which was also used to make a number of benches, a bar and a DJ booth.
When asked about Uptown’s purpose, the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, 23- year-old Linvall Julius, responded: "To bring back the community together; to bring back love in the community; to bring back the Community Festival and shows; to help to uplift not just the youths, not just the people, but the St. Peter’s community (as a whole). All of us are family, even though we come from different parts of the community.”
Speaking about the involvement of community members in the organisation, Julius said, "It's growing slowly but surely and it's open to anyone. It's not like you have to have membership and have to sign up."
The PRO explained that added to the organisation’s purpose, two main reasons that influenced its formation “are because we are getting older. Some of us are already starting a family and so we want to do something for the community. It's a lot we have planned but we're taking baby steps as we go”.
Uptown intends to organise a garbage clean-up at The Glenn, where people have been disregarding the “No Dumping” sign and have left a large amount of unsightly waste in the area.
Touching on the fundraising parties, Julius explained that when the organisation was in its embryonic stage, well-attended parties were held at Douglas Estate with the additional aim of providing entertainment for residents within proximity of their homes rather than travelling all the way to Basseterre and other far flung locations.
He noted that block parties and birthdays are occasionally held in the Lower Monkey Hill region.
Commenting on the use of the palettes in such a way, he praised Curtis Davis, Daron ‘Dabo’ Harris and Marlon Davis for the idea, noting that they are the organisation’s senior members who recalled that the palettes were used for the same purposes by the older generation in the past.
Marlon, an employee of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, had contributed the palettes which he had gotten from the financial institution.
Looking futuristically at Uptown’s contributions, Julius said, “It would mean a lot for St. Kitts! This would mean bring about a change in people, seeing that we could actually do something as a people, not just by reviving the Festival but community empowerment by helping to stimulate job creation and employment.
“People have dreams and we have to inspire them. That’s what Uptown is about! No matter where you come from, it’s all about love and unity. Without unity, where would we be? We would like to see people reach somewhere. If a kid says he wants to become a prime minister, why should he be deprived out of that?”
Uptown is currently seeking financial and other assistance from members of the business community in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We are trying hard to get sponsorship and investors to help us accomplish our goals, because we have goals but not sufficient money,” Julius said.
He further said that there are 10 senior members who make financial contributions to the organisation on a monthly basis, even though a number of them have children and make payments to their mortgages and vehicle instalments.
Among those in the St. Peter’s community who had contributed to Uptown’s project are Crucial Vibes Shop (operated by Keithroy Isaac), Doval Welch, Valerie Williams, Carol Icilma Phipps-Gilbert (Julius’ mother) and Geoffrey Bass.
Uptown extends thanks to all those who had supported its parties, held under the usual theme of ‘Girls Over Guns’.
Asked to comment on the theme, Julius said, “Girls over guns means to put down guns and instead of studying violence put your concentration on loving a girl. We don't ‘pree’ violence, it's woman and man not man and man. Like what Vybz Kartel says in one of his songs...‘Uptown full ah fun’”.
He was asked from where the name Uptown originated.
“We always hear people saying they going downtown (Basseterre) and we also though, ‘What happen to ‘Monkey Hill and we’re above town?’ We are a new generation, a new mindset of people, so it's not the same thing you heard in the days with the shootings,” Julius explained.
Interested persons desirous of making contributions can contact Julius at 764-5776, who indicated that the organisation’s Secretary/Accountant is Naldo Rawlins and all funds and contributions are recorded.
This reporter questioned if there were any other position in the organisation apart from the one Rawlins holds, to which Julius responded: “Not really...we don't want anyone to feel less important.Whatever you feel you want to contribute, we back up. We are all one family.”
Also planned by this community-based organisation are the uplifting of the St. Peter’s Community Centre, making contributions to schools in St. Peter’s, hosting take-away dinners, and promoting an event in September.
According to Julius, people have been asking when the next party would be held, and he declared that they hope to have one in February.
Julius also informed that members of Uptown meet on a monthly basis to discuss the group’s plans and ideas.
