Miss Heritage Committee stages cultural parade in Kingstown

Dubbed the National Cultural Parade and Mini Show, the event, which is in its first year, was organized by the National Secondary Schools Miss Heritage Committee{{more}} in collaboration with the Department of Culture.

The parade got underway at approximately 3:00 pm from the Kingstown Netball Centre at New Montrose and ended at the Heritage Square, where persons gathered were treated to a mini show.

Among those marching were Minister of Culture Frederick Stephenson, former Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste, Miss Heritage 2009, and the ten contestants for this year’s Miss Heritage show.

There was also a display of some of this year’s carnival costumes which captured the attention of the curious school children around the Kingstown area.

Upon arrival at Heritage Square, onlookers were treated to a number of musical renditions from the Sion Hill Euphonium and Starlift Steel Orchestras. This was followed by the playing of the National Anthem by the Girls’ High School (GHS) Steel Orchestra.

Headmistress of the GHS Andrea Bowman and Culture Minister Stephenson also addressed the gathering.

Bowman told the fairly large gathering that it was an honour for her to deliver the welcoming remarks to the first ever National Cultural Parade.

“I need you to recognize how significant this afternoon is. It’s new and we are just starting, but from what is happening thus far, I know you all recognize that this a necessary parade.

“It is a parade that we obviously need to continue,” the Headmistress said in her very brief remarks.

Stephenson congratulated the organizers of the event and said that the initiative was timely because it coincides with this year’s youth month theme.

“This month is also celebrated as youth month, and this year the theme for youth month is ‘Investing in Youth to transform our Nation’, and that is exactly what we are doing here this afternoon.

The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to invest in the young people and to ensure that through the Ministry of Education good things do happen. I want to compliment the organizers and I want to compliment the staff in the Ministry of National Mobilization and the Department of Culture for working together to ensure that today’s activity and the rest of the independence activities will be celebrated well,” Stephenson said.

After the addresses, it was then time for the show to continue.

Starting off the performances was Vibrating Skates with his classic “Our Nation is born.” Other performances included poetry by Grace Peters-Clarke and a dance by the Arabesque Dance Company. Also gracing the stage was the 2011 Calypso Monarch Tajoe. The main feature of Wednesday’s event was the appearance of the nine contestants who will be vying for the prestigious title of Miss Heritage 2011. The pageant will be held on Saturday, October 29, at Victoria Park. The contestants are: Georgetown Secondary – Chelsia Burke; George Stephens Senior Secondary – Bervena Simmons; Intermediate High – Chereesa Jacobs; St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown – Precious Abraham; St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua – Turphanie Davis; Girls’ High School – Anya Frederick; West St. George Secondary – Lystra Burgin; Union Island Secondary – Britney John; Thomas Saunders Secondary – Jonique Chance.