BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HUNDREDS of people from all walks of life journeyed to Cayon this morning (June 1) to participate in the Green Valley Festival’s J’Ouvert Jam.
The J’Ouvert began at 6:00 a.m. and ended sometime after 11:00 a.m. and saw persons jamming through the streets of Cayon to the sounds of the Kollision Band and a Hi-fi sound system.
Some party-loving persons also warmed up for the jam by attending pre-J’Ouvert jams at Spooners and De Pub, the latter which is owned by local calypsonian Big Lice.
Painted bodies gyrated to the sweet sounds of the music that were once ‘fresh’ during the national carnival season but still have not lost their ability to keep the crowd moving.
According to a lady from Upper Cayon, she was enjoying the J’Ouvert with the band but quickly changed over to the Hi-fi sound system that was playing her favorite song, ‘A Wan Whale’ by the Grand Masters Band.
Wingrove Hicks, Manager of the Grand Masters Band said that the band would definitely be jamming this afternoon for the Parade and Last Lap celebrations.
He said that when his band is on the road the people would turn out specifically for their current Road March hit.
Many persons were of the view that because of the recent criminal activities that took place in St. Kitts, it would have deterred many people from flying in for the event.
However, the crime has not deterred Darrel Butler, who is originally from Ottleys but grew up in Cayon and currently resides in North Carolina.
“Nothing was going to stop me from coming,” he said. “I am having a great time and still enjoy the togetherness and unity of the people. Even though there is crime in St. Kitts there is still young people who are willing to come together.”
Douglas Wattley, a former top athlete from the Cayon community and someone who has been giving advice to the Green Valley Festival committee over the years, gave his overall view of the festival, noting it could be what it once was.
He said that crime and violence, whether real or perceived, have significantly affected the festival.
“The people that support Green Valley come from all over and they feel that it’s not safe because of the crime situation,” he said.
He added that the present economic downturn is another issue affecting this year’s festival and people are being more cautious when it comes to spending their money.
“The fact that the festival is not adequately promoted, I don’t think we get the kind of coverage we use to get in the past because of the cost of ads, also the events usually start late,” he said.
Wattley added that those factors affect the festival and there has been a decline in attendees for the past three years.
“We’ve seen a decline in organisation, support and participation. In terms of a solution, we need to reinvent the festival or work to some rebirth. We need to go back to the original purpose of what the festival was created for…which is community development through participation,” he said.
“We need to be reminded that the festival was never intended to be a second national carnival, and the new committee need to carve out its own niche…and in so doing they it gets back to being a unique product as it’s no doubt the only community festival surviving.”
Wattley also recommend that the committee put in place some “apparatus of listening” to those who support Green Valley and not only those that are from the community, in order to craft a new approach for the festival.
“There should be more community involvement that also includes the primary and secondary schools. We’ve always been on the cutting edge of change and next year we’ll see a rebirth,” he said.
The J’Ouvert ended at the St. Mary’s Park where the bands started preparing for the final activities of the Green Valley Festival - Parade Day and Last Lap.
