NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (JULY 10, 2012) — Persons and business places who offered sponsorship for the 2012 Culturama festivities on Nevis, received a public “thank you” from Minister of Culture Hon. Hensley Daniel during what he described as a difficult economic environment.

The Minister was at the time delivering remarks at a press conference hosted by the Culturama 2012 Committee on July 6th, 2012, to launch the island’s premier cultural festival from July 26th to August 7th under the patronage of Mr. Victor Elmos Jeffers originally of Mount Lilly Village now a resident of Westbury Village. The theme will be “Our Identity! Our Survival!! 2k12 Culturama Festival”

“I think by any accounting procedure, most accountants would argue that in an environment where the economic situation is bad, we could easily cut those kinds of activities like Culturama and other social development activities because money is limited.

“I want to particularly thank the sponsors, for coming on board in an environment where, as we say locally, things are tight. For them to recognise that there is really no recession on culture there must be no recession on participation and there must be really no rescission on the expression of music dance and drama,” he said.

Notwithstanding, Mr. Daniel said he was not satisfied with the level of sponsorship which came from persons who ran the big food stores on the island over the years. He said they had always benefitted from Culturama but gave little or nothing back to the festival.  

“I also want to say that, I have been saying this for the last four years, that as I look at the profile of the sponsors, I don’t see enough of an involvement of the people who run the food stores and it is my considered opinion that during Culturama Mr. Byron and his team tell me that we have in excess of 40 booths operating and those 40 booths sell a lot of food and drink.

“I recognise the presence of Carib Breweries for sponsorship and all other things but I certainly want to see the food stores playing a greater role in the sponsorship of Culturama events,” he said.

According to Mr. Daniel, the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) had taken the decision in 2011 to allocate a full day to host a food fair in the heart of the festivities, which allowed vendors a greater opportunity to sell. He said the event which began from 7am to midnight was successful and vendors made money and it was only fair that the bigger food companies contributed in more meaningful ways to Culturama.

While he thanked the few who have contributed over the years, Mr. Daniel announced that the East Caribbean Group of Companies had indicated its willingness to make a significant contribution to this year’s festival.

“I have been given a commitment from the East Caribbean Group of Companies, producers of food which we sell at the Government’s Supply Office and several other places that they will make a significant contribution to the Food Fair that they will identify with the Food Fair.

“I want to thank them very much. We have not gotten the money yet but I think we can argue, that the discussions we have had will lead to a significant contribution,” he said.