St.
George’s, January 17, 2012 – Organizers
of the St. George’s Parish Day, which forms part of the 2012 Independence
celebrations, are expecting a massive turnout of people for a day-long set of
sporting and cultural activities scheduled for Sunday, January 29.
Each of the
nation’s parishes, including Carriacou and Petite Martinique, will be hosting a
Parish Day. Community groups and schools in each parish are also
participating in the first-ever “Prime Minister’s Best Village Competition.’’
The theme
for the 38th anniversary of Independence is: “Breaking All
Barriers, Striving for Greater Achievements Under One Flag’’.
Activities
are being spearheaded by the National Celebrations’ Committee (NCC), with
subcommittees of representatives of community groups in each parish. The
subcommittee for St. George’s includes representatives from the Carenage
Organization for Recreation and Entertainment (CORE).
“There are
three categories for judging the Prime Minister’s Best Village Competition –
environment, culture and food,’’ an NCC official said. “Culture
includes not just dance, music and drama, but also children’s games and
storytelling. For food, we are judging three types of Oil Down. These are
Traditional Oil Down, Popular Oil Down and Fish Oil Down.’’
The January
29 St. George’s Parish Day will be held on the Carenage, with plans to begin
the day with a cycle race.
“There are
also plans for swimming and water polo, basketball, cricket and small-goal
football,’’ said Lincoln Depradine, chairman of CORE. “The judging of the Oil
Down food component of the Best Village Competition will begin at three in the
afternoon, to be followed singing, dancing, steelpan and other cultural
activities. We expect this will be a grand celebration.’’
Depradine
said St. George’s Parish Day organizers are also inviting producers and vendors
of locally made arts and crafts to exhibit their wares at the event on January
29.
So far,
more than a dozen community groups and schools in St. George’s have registered
to be judged in the competition’s environmental and cultural categories.
Judging in these categories will begin next week.
Environment
projects will include village beautification, tree planting, floral
arrangements or mural paintings.
“Groups
desirous of registering for the competition still have a few more days left to
do so,’’ said Depradine. “They are invited to contact the Grenada Cultural
Foundation at 435-5869 or 435-2839. They can also call 420-0753, 534-8213 or
416-4384 and speak with one of the youth coordinators for the St. George’s
Parish Day and Best Village Competition.’’
At the
national level, the NCC will be hosting a number of other events such as an
Independence Torch Run; a track and field initiative called “A Day of Speed’’;
and a calypso competition. The defending calypso monarch is Pamela Courtney,
who also won the 2011 Carnival Calypso Monarch title.
Activities
culminate on Tuesday, February 7 – Independence Day.
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