Youths to showcase talent at PRISPAF

Culture defines a nation and is the aspect of a nation that visitors most often remember.

As he addressed the launch of the Primary Schools Performing Arts Festival (PRISPAF) on Tuesday at the National Public Library conference room, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil McKie said as a nation, we need to understand what defines us.{{more}}

“…it is the cultural aspect that people most often, after they visit the country, remember most and easiest.”

McKie also stated that as a young developing country, young people should be given the opportunity to showcase their talent.

“We are still a young developing nation and we have to give our young people every opportunity to showcase them, to make themselves and their families and their churches and their communities proud, but to make St Vincent and the Grenadines proud,” he stated.

He stated that his ministry realizes the importance of sports and culture and it is important that people grab at every opportunity that comes along.

“We realize that in our development, sports and culture will be pivotal, but that we have to gain, grab and accept every opportunity that will come our way…and we know that we are about to enter into exciting times in St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Also speaking at the launch was Rachel Haslam, representative from Eastern Caribbean Bottles Inc, the newest sponsor of the competition.

Haslam noted that at ECBI they believe in supporting extra-curricular activities, since they leave the biggest impression on our children.

She indicated that from last year’s involvement, not as official sponsor, they realized they had to get on board with this initiative.

“Last year we became involved with the festival by basically just jumping on the bandwagon; we had not long opened East Caribbean Bottlers Inc and we were looking for ways to to promote and reintroduce Ju-c, especially to the children and we were able to contribute cases and T-shirts as prizes for the winning school and students.

“It was then that we said ECGC needs to get on board with this very well executed event, so we are here today,” Haslam continued.

On behalf of ECBI, Haslam handed over a sponsorship cheque for $3,000 to the PRISPAF.

Coordinator of the PRISPAF Martin Quashie told those in attendance that parents need to encourage their children to utilize their God given talents.

“This is a message I am sending to parents I want you to please encourage your children to perform. They are given God given talents and nobody has the right to deny them of the performance of their talent,” he noted passionately.

“So, when they can sing, dance, act, do comedy, play an instrument, we have to smile and encourage them.”

Quashie noted that this is why they stage PRISPAF annually, as a way of nurturing and honing in on the talent that the youth have to offer.

Also speaking at the launch was Maxine Browne from the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture and Dexter Bacchus from the Ministry of Education, Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs.

PRISPAF will held under the theme ‘Everybody loves PRISPAF’ and officially begins on Tuesday, February 3 and will run for six weeks. Each week the team will travel to different schools and the best performances will be picked to perform on the Grand Days, which will take place on March 8 and 9.