BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONCE again it is that time of the year when crowds of people flock to the Basseterre Ferry Terminal to either compete in or witness the Annual Basil Henderson Easter Monday Aquatic Sport Meet.
This is the 55th year since the commencement of the annual meet and on Monday (Apr. 1) the usual competitive water sport events are scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Additionally, many people always look forward to the comical sight of competitors who would often slip and slide on the greasy poles in their attempts to get to the prize of ham on the horizontal pole and money on the vertical one.
The horizontal pole is normally attached to a part of the pier and extends over the sea, while the vertical pole is firmly embedded in the sand on the bank of the Caribbean Sea.
Event Coordinator Winston ‘Zack’ Nisbett, better-known ‘De Doctor of Culture, informed SKNVibes that “plans are moving along swiftly and smoothly” to host yet another successful event.
“This year is not much different except that we have a few innovative things. We want to introduce some snake and ladder…that sort of thing. We want to introduce the raft and we want to introduce rafting. We are trying to get people to reflect on the days of old when they had the clatter and the bamboo rafts. So we want people to focus on that.”
Nisbett also informed that there would be a section in which the most historical, creative and original rafts will be judged.
The traditional swim races, such as freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, distance and long distance, as well as underwater dive, will take place and winners, as usual, will receive much valuable prizes.
Another major attraction will be the boxing matches, where patrons are often treated to various forms of comical stances and flurries of punches thrown from the most awkward of positions, all in the name of friendly rivalry and exhibition.
Entertainment would be provided by E.K Sound System.
Nisbett is assuring the public that the usual security and safety measures would be in place in order for patrons to have a fun and incident-free day’s outing.
Security will be provided by members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, while members of the Coast Guard will ensure safety in the water and personnel from the Red Cross will be on hand in event of an emergency.
Nisbett said he is currently working on a book that would highlight the event from its inception to this year.
“During this 55th anniversary year, I am in the process of completing a book on 55 years of Aquatic Sports in St. Kitts, which would be presented at a later date. Some of the proceeds of the book will go towards two scholarships; one for Newtown Primary and one for Irish Town Primary, which are for one underprivileged child in each of these schools.”
At the conclusion of the Sports Meet, winners of the various events will be presented with their prizes by a “local celebrity”.
Courts St. Kitts-Nevis is a major sponsor of the event for yet another year, and the 2012 top prize was a 24-inch television set. Other sponsors include Scenic Railway, RAMS Trading Ltd., Dave Water Sports and TDC.
