Bowman: Nine Mornings Festival a success

Since the revival of Nine Mornings in 1999, treasurer of the committee Lennox Bowman believes that the organisation has met its objectives one of which was to make it the biggest festival in the state. At the prize giving ceremony on Saturday January 6 Bowman said that this country has become “the place to be for Christmas” and pointed out that St Vincent and the Grenadines was the only Caribbean country featured on the Travel Channels’ show of the places to visit for Christmas.

He praised the hard work done by the various communities and was pleased that the atmosphere never disintegrated into a street block where alcohol drinking and carousing was prevalent. {{more}}Bowman said that Nine Mornings was the most decentralised festival and that it simultaneously took place throughout the country reaching as far as Bequia and Union Island in the Grenadines.

Calling for the main government buildings to be lit up and decorated during the Christmas season, Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste announced that next year this initiative would be put into writing so that the edifices would reflect the Yuletide season.

Baptiste said that Nine Mornings was as unique as a fingerprint and Vincentians must maintain that exclusive tradition. The culture minister thanked her staff, the various Nine Mornings committees and all the sponsors who supported the festival and urged consumers to support these businesses that gave back generously.

The Digicel Most Improved Community was won by Sandy Bay, the Vinlec National Community Lighting competition was won by New Grounds, The Best Lit Garden went to Cane Hall Roundabout, Clement Ollivierre won the Best Lit Private House, the Department of Tourism Best Lit Commercial Building was captured by Grand Bazaar, the National Lottery Authority Best Nine Mornings Community was Carriere, National Lottery Best Christmas Community went to Rose Bank and the Most Popular Christmas Song was done by Roland Bowman entitled “House to House”.

Kenneth Ash and his daughter Faustina Ash were praised for their contribution to the festival while Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste was honoured with a plaque for her dedication by the New Life Ambassadors music band.