Charlestown Nevis (July 22, 2005) Minister of Culture in the Nevis Island Administration, the Hon Mr. Malcolm Guishard, while addressing the officially opening ceremony of Culturama 2005, announced that the government through his ministry of Culture will establish a hall of fame that would honour outstanding Nevisian cultural personalities.
He was at the time delivering brief remarks at the 31st anniversary of the festival (Nevis Culturama). He said, I was thinking about Culturama and how far we (the island) have come and where we are today and I thought it was time for us to look seriously at instituting a Hall of Fame for those persons who have contributed overwhelmingly and selflessly over the years to the development of Culturama and also to the preservation of our cultural arts.
Mr. Guishard pointed out that although some of the islands cultural icons had passed away, there is no other way to display their talents than through a hall of fame. He added, There is no better place than having an official site that you can come to, that you can see, pictures of them in their better days performing and this is something which I think we need to look seriously at and by Culturama next year, we will have in place such a center.
While the Culturama Committee honoured Culturama 2005 Patron, Mr. Wilfred Hammi Hamilton, the parading of some of this years participants for the various activities was highlighted during the ceremony.
Premier, the Hon Mr. Vance Amory, in declaring the festivity officially opened, welcomed all to the opening and encouraged the gathering to not only enjoy the season but to do so in peace. He encouraged all to look at this years festival as a new point in the development of the country.
As we are honouring and having as our patron Mr. Hamilton, one of our stalwarts of the cultural heritage of this country, I want all of us to recognize that culture is us, the way we are, the way we live, the way we dress, our music our food and all of those things which makes us who we are. Mr Hamilton, along with other persons like himself have made sure that we do not forget our heritage which has come down to us from our forefathers
Premier Amory indicated that the opening ceremony was the beginning of 12 days of entertainment and beseeched all to look at their festival as a festival that is unique and different.
Although we have competition from Antigua and from Barbados and other areas at this time, all seeking to celebrate their own cultural heritage at this time, and commemorate the emancipation of slavery and our movement away from the hard task masters to enjoying ourselves, I want to say that what we have here in Nevis is something unique and something special and we must enjoy it as such, Amory commented.
Executive Director of Culture, Mr. Antonia Liburd read a profile of the patron and presented his with a plaque. The ceremony was chaired by Acting Director of Culture, Mrs. Ernestine Rawlins.The ceremony was followed by several cultural presentations.
