First ever Earth Fest for SVG

Twenty eight years after the United Nations set aside a day aimed at sparking a revolution against the abuse of the environment, this country celebrated the day with our first ever Earth Fest.{{more}}

The event took place at the Victoria Park on Tuesday, in the form of an open air concert dedicated to the health of the planet.

Under the theme “act locally, think globally”, thousands of Vincentians, mainly students, converged for an assortment of speeches, performances and various displays commemorating the day.

Speeches were delivered by Minister of Health Dr. Douglas Slater, whose ministry was responsible for organizing the event.

Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne also addressed the gathering, as well as Executive Director of the CARICOM Climate Change Centre Dr. Kenrick Leslie.

The speakers urged those in attendance to keep in mind negative effects of concerns like global warming and pollution, and asked all to play their part in the preservation of life on Earth through recycling, conservation and the protection of endangered species.

Performances on the day came from a number of local acts, mainly entertaining the crowd with Earth Day themed topics: Maddzart, Avenue Dancers, and a surprise performance by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who broke into a dub chant while on stage.

A number of displays at the Victoria Park also carried the message of conservation and environmental awareness; from major companies like St. Vincent Electricity Services Ltd, Central Water and Sewerage Authority, to schools and non governmental organizations.

Also at Tuesday’s Earth Fest celebrations, members of the public health department and the Solid Waste Management Unit were recognized for their work in keeping St. Vincent and the Grenadines Clean.

Awards were also distributed to schools involved in Earth Day Activities.

The Barrouallie Secondary School won the street parade. The Barrouallie Anglican School was the winner of the Trash into Cash Competition, while the The Calliaqua Anglican and the Intermediate High School were awarded for the best presentations at the Fest.

Ministry of Health officials indicated that the inaugural Earth Fest was a huge success, with plans to continue the event for years to come.