BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FIVE of the six contestants vying for the Miss Green Valley title on May 29, told SKNVibes Pep TV that they see crime as the most important issue affecting their community.
The contestants made that assertion last Friday afternoon (May 22) at the Independence Square during an exclusive interview, where they were also asked about their favorite Green Valley event, how preparations for the show were coming along and about solutions to crime.
Kercha Sealy-Hanley, who declared that this was her second time entering a pageant, said that there should be afternoon classes and various clubs for young boys to keep them occupied, as one of the solutions to crime.
Sealy-Hanley is sponsored by the Windsor University and she said that her favorite Green Valley event is Last Lap, which is a time for her to enjoy herself.
“Harsher punishments,” proclaimed Anthea Morris, whose sponsors include Parris Shopping Centre and F&H Frisco Ltd.
Morris said that she sees crime and violence greatly affecting her community and thinks that harsher punishments would help.
Asked about an advice she would give to anyone who has a dream, Morris said she would encourage them to go for their dreams and that failure is not an option.
Hazel Webbe is sponsored by Eugene Hamilton and she said that preparations are going well and that J ‘Ouvert and Last Lap are her favorite Green Valley events.
“You get to be free,” she said.
Webbe did not hesitate to say that something needs to be done about crime, when asked to name the issue that affects her community the most.
“We need to come together as one, as a community and as a village and stop the ‘I don’t like this, this is Labour or this is Pam’. This is what is diving us,” she said. “We need to come together as one and discuss ways and means to make things better.”
She encourages anyone who has a dream to go for it and not to let anyone tell them that they cannot, but to have a strong mind.
Jade Walwyn is sponsored by the Green Valley Festival and currently works for American Airlines.
She also feels that crime affects her community greatly, noting that parents of males, especially, need to train their children in the correct way and let them know wrong from right.
“You can’t let them go astray. You need to put them into small groups, whether church groups or scouts, just to help keep them out of trouble and help carry down the crime rate,” she said.
Walwyn looks up to her former teacher, Naeemah Hazelle-Menon, as her role model because of her personality. She also noted that whenever there are conflicts her role model could always be relied on for resolutions.
Natasha Benjamin, sponsored by Elco Ltd., said that she has always been amazed by the talents portrayed in queen shows and wants the opportunity to showcase hers.
Benjamin said that she looks forward to the queen and calypso shows, and explained that the latter is a time when everyone gets to hear about the issues affecting their community.
Although Benjamin did not say that crime was affecting her community, she noted that youth going astray is a major issue in her community.
“The only way to deal with the crime situation now is to secure our future generation,” she said.
She sees Kim Collins as a role model and that he has taken the Federation’s name and made it known to the world.
Her advice to young people is to follow their dreams.
“Don’t let anyone put you down, don’t listen to haters or people that are just jealous,” she said.
The Cedric Liburd-sponsored Shaday Peters said one of the reasons she chose to enter the show is to also reach out to the youth in Green Valley.
“Because of all the commotion, crime and stuff going on, we need to start to look for the youth because we are the future,” she said.
Peters said that crime and violence not only affect her community but the Federation as a whole. She added that in order to help the situation, the community needs to start with the parents.
“We need to actually start going to church, Sunday school…just like old time sake,” she said.
The 2009 Miss Green Valley Queen show will be held at Maynard’s Park on Friday, May 29, where the six contestants will compete in Introductory Speech, Talent and Cultural Wear.
The show is expected to begin at 8:00 p.m. and is said to be an event no one should miss.
