Like a knight in shining armor, Petro Caribe has come in and saved the day for one more Miss Dominica 2014 pageant.
Shalina Samuel of Stockfarm had her fears pushed aside on Thursday 13th February, 2014, a mere two weeks before the pageant, after she received part sponsorship from Petro Caribe and the Discover Dominica Authority.
She is the last of the pageant contestants to recieve sponsorship.
Sales and Marketing Manager of Petro Caribe, Ian Pinard, told the Dominica Festivals Committee’s (DFC) weekly press conference on Thursday that the sponsorship comes after prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, asked the company to assist Samuel.
“We are here this morning, in a big way, to say that Miss Shalina Samuel of Stockfarm will now be part-sponsored by Petro Caribe…” he said.
Samuel expressed gratitude to Petro Caribe and revealed that she intends to do her best during the pageant and her life in general.
She now joins Jewele Browne, Octavia Prosper, and Royette Laurent who are also sponsored by Petro Caribe and Discover Dominica Authority.
Speaking at the same press conference parliamentary representative for the St Joseph constituency, Kelver Darroux, sent out a stern warning to the island’s youth urging them to exhibit moderation and discipline during the 2014 carnival festivities.
“I want to send a very strong message out particularly to the young people of the country that carnival time is a time to enjoy yourselves and have a very wonderful time but you also have to exhibit responsible behavior,” he said. “I want to encourage the youth to continue to display a level of moderation in your activities and also a level of discipline.”
He also encouraged Dominica to visit St Joseph on Saturday 15th February, for the community’s carnival opening parade.
“St Joe city is carnival city …. this is a community which over the years has had very big carnivals and this year is no exception,” he said. “This Saturday from 3:00 pm February 15th we will witness the opening parade of St Joe carnival from the main road coming down to the village in the community of St Joseph.”
The parade will feature pageant contestants, sensay groups, flag wavers, cheerleaders, stilt walkers, and t-shirt groups.
There was a time contestants always got sponsorship from companies such as DOMLEC, DOWASCO, various banks etc. Now it’s like the young ladies begging for sponsorship. To my understanding, their appearance at the various events is not covered by their sponsors, meaning the funds for their attire comes from their own pocket or luckily some of them may have relatives abroad assisting them. I would feel some type of way if a certain contestants is getting all the attention because she is always well dressed mainly because she has family abroad assisting or able to afford on her own. Do not feel discouraged ladies….the attire and appearance on the night of the show is what matters. May the best person win….besides when ever the show is judged fairly …the deserving Ms.Dominica always makes Dominica proud in regional competitions.
every year is the same crap.
But didn’t PM tell d girl when dey were at the college 3 weeks ago that he going to give her ten thousand dollars for her sponsorship? So where it go? Dem men just saying wat dat come out of there mouth. Maybe she and her chaprone never see dat money.
i understood she does have the 10,000 but she can’t say she is Miss Skerrit so he using petro Caribe name
I wonder how the other girls sponsored by petro feeling?
that’s something they planned the girls that are fully sponsored are being pushed more anyways so should they care
Just go out there and do yal best
magwaysa atleast de opposition could take up one sponsorship,they have money touring the world.
Thanks for making my point, exactly. Out people are so hypocritical it is no longer funny. We have a bunch of men (and one woman?) claiming that they alone care about everything ailing our country. They beat their chest everyday now for the last fourteen years, decrying every thing, blami g the government of the day, even when it ranked the Christmas Eve deluge. Today we see them spending thousands on trips abroad in a futile attempt to woo those whom they have condemened for exercising the franchise during the last two election cycles. Not once have they offered to assist the Xmas Eve storm victims. Say nothing of helping the cultural efforts in Dominica with their newly found largess. If someone can name a single local cause that the opposition party is enabling in Dominica, I would be the wiser. But they asking us for the keys to our treasury. We would be fools to let them have it. Reminds me of the challenge to the laborer in “Song of the Banana Man.” Lennox and company should “Do something for” their country.
Shalina, I have been down that road of not knowing who is going to sponsor me as a queen contestant. Committee members themselves will crook you because they already have their chosen one and you really have to work hard to prove yourself. With faith in God you will come through.
During my year, I was told to come to choose my bathsuit at 10 in the morning, by the time I arrived at twenty to 10 all bathsuits were taken up. I got the ugliest one but with a bit of creativity still managed to capture best in bathsuit and the crown.
Keep being positive,in DA is who you know and who they want…. No wonder gaining sponsporship is so difficult.
Secondly, changes need to be made in the makeup of the Queens committee.. papa bondieu one family cannot be controlling all faucets of a queen show for years…. ah magre sa.
time for dem gurls to take a loan n invest in themselves i tired wit dat broke queen syndrome in dca every year sponsors spending comeh thousands n when u ask dem to sponsor a lil educational vibes is a sad story about no money. to me queen is rich ppl ting stop the fantasy ting n utilize dollars to improve the lot of the common man in dca especially the children.
Shalina is a very humble and jovial young lady and deserves to be treated fairly. She was the only contestant seen helping with her float the night before the opening parade even without an official sponsor she was a part of creating the scene she presented on Saturday.
Pm tell petro car I be to ease up the price at the pumps… Magwe sah
Please take a crash course in English
Do you realize where the high cost of fuel is going . into sponsoring queens. They charging us huge prices at the pumps and using the large profits to sponsor queen and run their campaigns in point Michel. We need lower prices at the pumps
wapen u stupid man?? since when Dominica controlling world oil prices??
if you were paying attention you would realize that the government controls the prices we pay at the pump. not the “world” prices but what we pay here. if you do not believe me, check the gazette and look for the Statutory Rules & Orders published.
All these shows r no different from “uncle demon” no wonder they can’t get sponsors. Had it been a poor person seeking finicial aid for health reasons how many sponsors would come on board.
Treat sponsors with respects and the Corporate citizens will come forward to use their hard earned monies.
Well since the winner is hand picked ahead of the show, why should businesses want to invest their money in a failing cause? When the organizers start treating the competition like a competition then people will want to sponsor again.
Years ago, each queen contestant would have a sponsor from the PRIVATE SECTOR. Today almost all the queens have to be sponsored by Petro caribe or the National Petroleum Company in which the govt have their hands in. This administration needs to create the enabling environment for private businesses to thrive. Things are so crucial here, businesses are suffering. Then again this is how the Prime Ministers wants it. If private businesses are crippled to their knees and are not in a position to offer sponsor ship to our young ladies and other groups, then he do what he does best and try to take credit for everything. PM, we are now on to you. We understand how you operate. Gone are the days!
Remember the man said he would create his own private sector eh!!
The local businesses are up to their noses in debt and business activity in Dominica is almost stagnant.Petro Caribe should sponsor all the queens because they are they only ones with money. Dominicans are still waiting for the reduced electricity bills we were promised five years ago. They and the ministers are the only ones making money in Dominica. No wonder PM had to ask them to sponsor the lady because he knows that they have Dominicans gas money.
I before e except after c omg its receive …should i send in my application!
So sorry about the typing why on earth are you attacking the PM are you expecting him to buy you toilet paper come on let the likes of Astaphan sponsor the lady
Do you guys really expect this young lady to learn about Petro Caribe on this 11th hour? 3 other girls are sponsored by Petro Caribe, Shalina you don’t need to say anything about that company, let them say it all. In two weeks you don’t have time to enjoy the cherade of the sponsorship.
and next year will be worst. soon there will be no sponcers ,was it a few years ago the portsmouth contestant was the last to get sponcer yet she took home the crown.
That’s how things are in dominica and pm always playing knight in shining armour when is he that have us in that situation in the first place
masssshhhhh!!!….give skerrit a break man
LMAO
What prevented the UWP Team who obviously has money to travel the globe, spreading propaganda about Dominica and Dominicans to sponsor some of the young women to show the PM and Dominica that they can be as big hearted as the PM to find sponsors.
That they can do better, but we all know that they cannot do better. What they can do best is wait until he comes to the rescue and then do what they do best.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. PINARD!!, but is it really Petro Caribe, or the Prime Minister coming to the rescue of the people he put to manage an important office like DFC/DDA. The DFC have failed to respect the reputable Sponsors in Dominica as a result some have vowed to cut all links with the DFC and Queen Pageant, and sadly the PM has to again come to the rescue and allocate monies to save the day.
DFC Board needs to look into why the shows are not getting the type of sponsorship that was present years ago. A prominent businessman who has about 4-5 Queens consecutively has refused to sponsor again because of the disrespect of one man at DDA/DFC.
Shalina try to do your best at the show, it is only two weeks to the competition and this child has been under immense pressure not knowing where the next $$$$$ would come from to help her. A strong and determined young lady never gave up, never lose hope. How much did that committee do to help her? Two weeks ago 3 other young ladies were sponsored by that same Petro Caribe, did you guys not see Shalina? Or you chose your favourites to be sponsored? Was she that short in the crowd? All the names were called at the opening parade from a script which may have been given to “Young Bull” Shalina name is the only one that was not mentioned, not one single time. All of you on the Committee put yourself in that child’s place for only one minute and tell us how you would have felt.
I heard Shalina speak at the various outings and her platform is circled around being positive, without the positive nature she would have given up. The support and contribution from Friends and Family seem to have assisted her greatly thus far. Continue to work hard Shalina, God is not sleeping.
u mean to tell me tat all this time de girl didn’t have a sponsor, is that how things are in dominica. well am sorry for next year, next year contestants won’t even get any, things are too terrible in d/ca
why all givin tums down when its the fact… she had to stay all that time with out a sponsor.. no one doe have money to sponsor so its that bad for the carnival season.. give ur comments instead of givin tumps down
bcuz she not goin to like ddduuuuhhhhhhhhh
congratulations!
wha happen, Petro Caribe alone dat have money in the country man?