Nine Mornings to be launched on Sunday

Capital city Kingstown is expected to be a hive of activity this Sunday, when the 2012 SVG Christmas/Nine Mornings Festival is officially launched at Heritage Square, beginning at 6 p.m.{{more}}

The activities, which will mark the start of this year’s celebrations, will begin with the traditional street parade, accompanied by the RSVG Police Force and Cadet Bands, Bom Drums from Rose Bank, Stubbs, C.W. Prescod and Brighton Primary Schools, along with dancers and drummers from around the country and X-Pan of Sion Hill.

A release from the SVG Nine Mornings Committee said that special lights have been brought in for the street procession which, this year, will be a march for peace, love and unity in the country. The parade will also include aspects of the Girls’ High School National Heritage Parade, cyclists, serenaders and groups from the rural areas. The route will be from the Heritage Square along Bay Street, Higginson Street, Back Street and ending at Heritage Square.

Following this, there will be a short opening ceremony with Christmas greetings from corporate sponsors the National Lottery Authority and Vinlec. Special prayers and exhortations for the nation will be given by Reverend Alvin Walker of the Kingdom Life Ministries; then Minister of Culture the Hon. Cecil McKie will officially declare the festival open. Following this there will be the lighting of Heritage Square.

A varied cultural package will climax the evening’s activities. Scheduled to perform are: Carlton “CP” Hall, Voices of Victory, La Gracia Dancers, Gideon James, The Bowmans, Shaunelle McKenzie, Elite Steel Orchestra and a number of other traditional performances from the rural areas.

The SVG Nine Mornings Committee is encouraging the whole of St Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in the launch of the 2012 SVG Christmas/Nine Mornings Festival this Sunday, 2nd December. The festivities are being held under the theme: “celebrating a unique Vincentian tradition”.