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| CULTURE, SPORTS, TOURISM EXPECTED TO PAY BIG DIVIDENDS |
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| EDITORIALS | |
| Sunday, 03 May 2009 06:19 | |
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An observation – even a very casual one – of the work of the National Democratic Congress Government would undoubtedly reveal that in the past nine months, an inordinate amount of emphasis has been placed on our nation’s cultural, sports and tourism products. One of the government’s main reasons is to create a niche for generating revenue.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Tourism have been proactive in establishing various local committees and staffing them with competent individuals with talent in organising and presenting cultural and sporting events; individuals also with competency to help negotiate with international airlines to keep them flying in to the soon-to-be renamed Maurice Bishop International Airport.
Where the government is not directly involved, it readily gives its staunch support to private initiatives in sports, culture and tourism. The combined government and private sector efforts are expected to pay large financial dividends this summer. Thousands of visitors from near and far will join locals for a series of events that will run from May to August. The result should be a financial bonanza for the nation-state of Grenada.
The first of the summer activities is a new event, Rock d Spice, which has the full backing of the Ministry of Tourism. Businessman and promoter Steve Duncan is the chief organiser of Rock d Spice, a three-day fiesta of food, concert, and arts and craft to be held from May 29 - 31.
The concert, scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at the National Stadium, will feature Grammy Award entertainer Shaggy, world renowned reggae band Third World, and Trinidad soca star, Destra. The cast will be complement by a number of Grenadian artistes such as Ajamu, Mr. killa, Lavaman, Brother B and Inspector.
Grenada’s next major international spectacle after Rock d Spice will be the return of test cricket to the Spice Island. Bangladesh is embarking on a summer tour of the Caribbean, and the country will play a test match against the West Indies in Grenada. The second test, at the National Stadium, is from July 17 – 21.
Carriacou’s portion of the summer festivities begins on July 26 with the start of the annual Regatta. The Regatta is nine days of boat races, fetes and concerts, culminating on August 3.
However, before Carriacou’s Regatta would have ended, tourist and locals would have had the opportunity to partake in at least two other outdoor activities - Grenada Summer Sail 2K9 and Rainbow City Festival.
Summer Sail organizers say they want to make 2009 a “different type of vacation’’ for visitors. They are promising that participants will “sail from island to nearby island’’ from July 29 – August 5, enjoying snorkelling and experiencing “memorable nights under starry, moonlit skies.’’
Rainbow City Festival, a mega blend of carnival show, gospel concert and art exhibition, will be held in the big parish of St. Andrew, La Baye, from July 31 to August 3.
Carnival 2009
The crowning jewel of Grenada’s summer events is carnival, Spice Mas. The final two days of Spice Mas – Carnival Monday and Tuesday – are August 10 and 11.
Modern Grenada carnival – which was moved from pre-Lent to August in 1981 – began its indigenization after Africans were emancipated from plantation slavery in 1834. Their carnival, unlike the 18th Century pageantry of upper class French settlers, was in commemoration of their liberation from chattel slavery. This year, therefore, marks 175 years since the commemoration which was first dominated by stick fighting and Canboulay.
Steelband in Grenada is also marking a special anniversary this year. It was 40 years ago that a then Catholic priest, Trevor Emmanuel, broke from convention, which frowned on members of the clergy involving themselves in carnival culture. In 1969, “Father Trevor Emmanuel’’ accepted a contract to arrange music for the Carenage-based Panasonic Steel Orchestra, which won the national panorama title. This move by Mr. Emmanuel, who died last December, cleared the way a few years later for a group of St. Joseph’s Convent students to begin learning to play the pan. It was the first large scale group of women to join the pan movement in Grenada. Many steelbands today comprise more women than men.
For tourists, especially those travelling from North America, the fear of the unavailability of flights was alleviated by recent announcements from Air Jamaica and American Eagle.
In March, Air Jamaica reported that it will be adding two weekly non-stop flights from New York to Grenada in anticipation of the busy summer travel season. Air Jamaica’s George deMercado said the increase from two to four flights weekly “was made possible by close cooperation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, through the Grenada Board of Tourism, and members of the Grenada Airlift Committee.’’
As well, starting this month, American Eagle is restoring flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Grenada and several other Caribbean destinations. American Eagle, an affiliate of American Airlines, says the flight schedule will remain in effect for at least the high summer season and could be retained year-round.
The injection of capital that will be forthcoming from the summer events could not come at a more opportune time, as economies – large and small – are still grappling with the global economic and financial crisis. We expect the customary exceptional Grenadian hospitality for our many visitors, and wish tourists and locals alike a safe summer season in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
NDC editorials are published twice per month, on the first and third Sunday at www.ndcgrenada.org We encourage members of the National Democratic Congress to submit editorials and commentaries for publication. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, etc. The next editorial will be published on Sunday, May 17.
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