BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE time has come for potential revellers and even those who would just be looking on to dust off those gym shoes and head down to the Independence Square for an afternoon of fun-filled fitness exercises.
As part of the Sugar Mas 42 celebrations, the Carnival Committee has organised a Health and Fitness Fair to be held today (Nov. 29) starting promptly at 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Speaking with the Committee’s Chairman, Sylvester Anthony, he said that they are collaborating with the Ministry of Health and a number of gym owners and instructors as well as offshore medical universities to make the fair the best it could be.
He informed that the Fair would feature the traditional health screening but added that, in an effort to add more excitement, it would also have aerobics exercises and performances by some of the Soca artistes.
"We decided to add something more to it because it is Carnival. So we have added the aerobics exercise component to it using our Soca Monarch artistes to provide the musical background for that. So we will have live music in the form of a deejay and a number of our Soca Monarch artistes will be performing.
"We have invited a number of exercise clubs and gyms who will be present and lead the Soca exercise component of the day."
Naming some of the screenings, Anthony said that in addition to the health, the public would be able to get massages done, receive health counselling, and receive educational paraphernalia on HIV/AIDS, health and nutrition.
Anthony said that the screenings would begin at 10:00 a.m. and the vendors would be selling in the venue, while a DJ would be on hand to provide musical entertainment.
He said that the exercise aspect would begin at 4:00 p.m. following a HIV/AIDS March through the streets of Basseterre, within which the National Carnival Queen contestants would be participating before heading to the Independence Square.
The HIV/AIDS March starts at 2:00 p.m. from Greenlands.
Anthony informed that the Committee is trying to discourage vendors from selling the traditional alcohol and foods at the booths, but is encouraging more healthy foods be provided for sale to the participants and the public at large.
"We want to focus on health, fitness and preparedness for Carnival. We have encouraged more wholesome eating and drinking. We have invited vendors that sell vegetarian foods and healthy foods and drinks.
"It is a fitting Exhibition and Fair to have as we prepare for Carnival, because our theme and the Minister of Health's theme has always been to have a great Carnival, but it should be healthy and clean. You don't have to overdo anything, you don’t have to over eat or over drink, you can maintain a good balance between enjoyment and healthy living.
"We have had tremendous interests shown by the various gyms and exercise clubs and we really ask people, 'When you come to work tomorrow, walk with a gym bag, walk with an extra bag with some track shoes and track pants and shirts so you can come and have some fun.’
"It is really about having fun, but at the same time keeping fit. And we really hope to see hundreds of people in Independence Square tomorrow afternoon (Nov. 29)."
This Health and Fitness Fair is the first of its kind for Carnival and the Chairman said that the Committee hopes to make it an annual event.
