Chairman of the Carnival Development Committee (CDC) Alwin Bully says Dominica is gaining “serious” benefits from carnival, contrary to claims that the festivities are not paying off.
Bully told a press conference Tuesday at LIME’s press conference room in honour of Miss Dominica Marcia Baptiste, that the queen show pageant in particular is doing well for Dominica.
“Over the years the queen show and our carnival queens have done more for Dominica than several other areas of expected returns from the tourism industry.
“The tourism industry depends on the name of Dominica being presented overseas, as a place of excellence, as a place of high culture, as a place of proper organisation of shows…and that in itself is major publicity for the country, which the tourist board doesn’t even anticipate every year when they put their money [and] interest in carnival,” Bully emphasized.
Dominica’s carnival is being marketed as original.
– DNO Correspondent
Representative of Project Promotions, Cecil Ryan expressed gratitude to all persons who made the event possible namely the Organisation of the American States who funded the project, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the Ministry of Education, the International Airport Development Company, St. Vincent Calypso Association, Carnival Development Association, SVG Credit Union League, Winfresh and National Lotteries Authority. He said the Junior Calypso competition was one of several activities which were done as part of their project. He noted that they conducted a survey to find out how knowledgeable Vincentians are about the environment. They conducted workshops, printed leaflets and posters on different aspects of the environment and hosted three Radio Programs. He said the aim was help persons to become aware of the environment and how it can be used sustainably.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bertie Pompey congratulated the winners of the competition and the co-organisers. He said the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force was pleased to be associated with the cultural event. He is urging parents to take up their roles and also to encourage their children to listen to positive songs.
Senior Education Officer, Carlton Hall commended the police band for their dedication and commitment. He noted that the competition was of a high standard and the Ministry of Education was pleased to be associated with it. He further stated that the competition was timely and can be seen as a fore-runner for the National Junior Calypso Competition. He said that the environment is part of school’s curriculum noting that it is being taught in the Sciences and Social Studies.
Hall urged the students to write their own songs in the future and have their teacher review them. He noted that when a person writes their own songs they are able to perform it better than when it is written for them. He encouraged the students to learn to play a musical instrument particularly the guitar because it is cheap and portable. He urged the participants to engage their audience whenever they are on stage. Hall made a call for all local radio stations to play these calypsos because they are of very high standard. Hall noted that the Ministry of Education is looking forward for the next project.
The four top students in the competition were Lee Bullock of the St. Vincent Grammar School, Gafiesha Smart of the Calder Government School, Terrencia Cornwell of Marriaqua Convent and Stephanie Mascoll of the West St. George Secondary. They all received a laptop and one gig thumb drive courtesy Winfresh. Participants of the other schools received congratulatory letters from the Ministry of Education.
Well done Val Cuffy!
More really Super Fantastic news for Dominica!!!!!!
“Yes I” its a sin to praise your own self let someone do it for you. From what I see it was already plan in the event she had won but I understood like yourself u want name u ran to to do motocade. Good things come to those who wait.
Congrats Marcia. ” Hmm” I glad for all you. Its time people like you all shut up and start asking questions on how things are done. and what is done before making comments. Why when other winners came in a few hours after the winner of the pageant was announced and event held a few days after no body talk or say a word.
The girl from the territory and two others did not get sponsor. So What all u talking about. we need to get an open report on all the girls for you all to shut up once and for all and stop singing for all supper according to Karl “Please stop making everything problem in Dominica”.
Her sponsor is still Dr Geoffrey Lafond, Dominican residing in Barbados. Congratulations Dr Lafond.
Stand corrected that is not so.
Its nice to know that miss Baptise can bring home the crown .. But she still do not have a sponsor, DId you all realised that the same evening gown she wore at the National Queen show was the same gown she wore to the Miss C/bean World. Yet everyone is bragging and happy but my good people how much further can she go w/out a sponsor. Is that what we are coming to? Shame on us.
And what’s is wrong with the evening wear? Have you been around the regional and international pageant circuit to understand its dynamics? Please inform yourself about these things. She had a beautifully crafted gown, which is a proper evening wear and not a costume like some others.
A proper pageant gown costs on average 300.00 us dollars. Thank God if you have someone with creativity and a good machine…other than that it is quite costly to attend these pageants…
Offer the lady a new dress, since you mentioned it…she still has quite a bit of pageants and functions to go to.
Hmm who is that sponsor, they should be commended.
I have to agree that the festival committee or whatever the name of the organisation that is in charge of the queen show need to stop “riding on these ladies’ acheivements”. They are quick to say in ‘public’ how the ladies are representing so well but guess what, not even a taxi was sent to pick up Ms Baptiste when she returned to the state on Sunday after her victory in the BVI, far less for a welcoming party.
Whether our representative wins or not, at the very list she should be facilitated with her travel logistics. Shame on you all.
Good thing Marcia has a sponsor who is providing her with support.
Thanks to DNO and viewers like us comments.
If it were not for us, this so call ceremony for Queen marcia would not have taken place.
Why can’t we have a crown similar to the one the Queen of England bears on her head? Then, we can have our own monarchy. Then, I can look forward to a knighthood from Marcia which is long overdue. (lol)
congrats girl and all the best in your next upcominig pageants
i know Alwin Bully will do a good job, he knows about culture and isa man of planning and organisation. Whatever he does he does well ,it a natural thing about him.
Someone else in another article mentioned that Land should be given to this young lady. That is a great idea, it is the least that can be done.
Come on son! Recognize the Queen!
World creole festival needs to take a leaf from Alwin Bully book and start making headways.
i know wii..lol
Pure bling weeeee………lol……………..
yah them queens doin good but allu still not treating them right…especially marcia…shame on allu
I thinks some of you like “Messing with Sasquactch” sometimes sit with nothing to do and just wait for Dominica newsonline to come up with a topic to give all work to do. Stop sit on your bottom and commenting topics when do not know what you a talking about. And who saidbody does not treat Marcia right? Marcia getting treatment some other queens never got.
Please stop making everthing problem in Dominica.
And yes we all love Marcia and will support her.
Karl….so how come she stayed over an hr in the airport…
there was no cameras
a small motocade organize by close friends
allu hate her champeron****
is allu self….
vowas yo vowas