CMMB joins culture with support for Miss Carival

Financial institution First Citizens Group, the parent company of Caribbean Money Market Brokers (CMMB) has crossed the cultural threshold in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

It was announced last week that the Trinidad and Tobago based bank has become a Super Platinum sponsor of Vincy Mas, and has taken the region’s most prestigious beauty pageant Miss Carival under its wings.

Chairman of the local Beauty Shows Committee Cheryl Rodriguez announced at a press conference of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) that this year’s show, which is slated for Friday July 2, will be called the First Citizens Group Miss Carival 2010.

Rodriguez announced that eleven countries, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines who will be represented by Miss SVG 2010 Aphesha Matthews, will participate in this year’s pageant.

The countries and contestants are: Anguilla (Sangrena Harris), Antigua and Barbuda (Shelana Harris), British Virgin Islands (Jasmine Perez), Dominica (Marcia Baptiste), Grenada Beverly Victor), St. Kitts and Nevis (Sudeakka Francis), St. Lucia (Iva Satney), Trinidad and Tobago (Keda Louann Pascall), Venezuela (Lucia Di Matteo Cacua) and for the first time Martinique (Joane Daniele Lirus).

Local CMMB Branch Manager Norlan Gabriel, speaking at the press conference indicated that the initiative for First Citizens group to sponsor the event was born out of the need to promote the brand, which is not well known in the country.

“We plan to achieve this by exercising our corporate social responsibility and sponsoring events, addressing and assisting the social needs in all of the nations in which CMMB and First Citizens Bank operate and also to work along with the Ministry of Culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Gabriel said that the group’s involvement in sponsorships such as this demonstrates their commitment to the development of the culture and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The visiting contestants and chaperones arrived in the state on Monday.

While here, they will be involved in a number of events before the pageant which include interviews, visits to the Cabinet and guest appearances at a number of shows.

The reigning Miss Carival is Asheida Charles of Grenada. (JJ)