Guides ‘100 STRONG: Relay of Relays’ a sucess

If the throngs of girls that lined the roads of this country last Friday are any indication, guiding is alive and well in St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

As early as 5 a.m., members from all facets of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Girl Guides Association took to the streets to commemorate its centenary with the “100 STRONG: Relay of Relays.”

This event consisted of 100 legs, which started on the Leeward side of the island, in Fitz Hughes and culminated in Georgetown, where guiding was first started in 1914.

Brownies, guides, rangers and their leaders waited anxiously at their respective legs, for a chance to carry the centenary baton.

Following the relay, the groups made their way back to the Black Point recreational site for a celebratory picnic.

Chief commissioner Rechanne Browne-Matthias thanked persons for showing up at their respective legs, with their friends and family to show their support for the Girl Guide movement in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I’m certain you can say that we’ve started our celebrations in fine style. After today, it will be clear that guiding is alive, we have something to celebrate and we are going to continue to thrive into another century,” Matthias said, causing the crowds to cheer loudly.

In her brief remarks, René Baptiste, president of the Association, echoed the senti ments of the chief commissioner.

“It was wonderful seeing all these brownies when we came out this morning and also as we gathered in Georgetown. We are in the birthplace of the guiding movement in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” she said.

She also joked that this could be the first time that persons are seeing “so many women in one place.”

It was indeed a spectacle, as persons could be seen standing on their porches looking on, as hundreds of girls paraded the streets in blue, white and yellow T-shirts, dancing and shouting in excitement.

As they waited in the traffic, other persons looked out of their vehicle windows to see what was going on.

The chief commissioner expressed her deepest gratitude to the sponsors, who had made the event possible and said that she looked forward to their continued support.

These sponsors include the St Vincent Co-operative Bank, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Lulley’s Fishing Supplies, National Lotteries Authority, Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Edwin D Layne and Sons, Digicel, Starlift Steel Orchestra and Baptiste and Co.

The 100 Strong Relay is the first official event that will happen this year, to celebrate the centenary of guiding in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Other events are expected to follow in the coming months, with the biggest one being “Youremei Splash,” an international camp for girls from all around the world, which will be held in April at Black Point recreational site. (BK)