Projects Promotion to host Calypso Competition

Projects Promotion Limited (PPL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the International Airport Development Company (IADC), the SVG Calypsonians’ Association, and the Carnival Development Corporation, is staging a Junior Calypso Competition to involve primary and secondary school students across the country.{{more}} It is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 12, 2010, at the Nutrition Centre. This competition will be held under the theme, Our Environment, Our development, Our Future. Admission is free to the general public.

This Junior Calypso Competition is part of a project entitled “Capacity Strengthening for Community Management of Resources for Sustainable Development” funded by the Organisation of American States (OAS). The aim of this project is to strengthen the basis for participatory and collaborative approaches to community development in the process of pursing alternative livelihoods, while addressing issues of gender, democracy and equality.

The competition is premised on an understanding of the role of calypso in our culture and the pivotal role that young people play as message carriers. The art of writing and performing calypsos has become a very effective medium for the spreading of ideas and messages. PPL is also of the view that this activity will produce a double outcome of sharpening young people’s awareness on environmental issues and encourage them to become agents for disseminating ideas among the general population through their songs.

The Following persons have been selected by the Organizing Committee for the finals of the PPL Junior Calypso Competition.

Phylicia Alexander, Intermediate High School; Lee Bullock, St. Vincent Grammar School; Stephanie Mascol, West St. George Secondary School; Larion Mapp, St. Vincent Grammar School; Shade Barker, St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown; Terancia Cornwall, St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua; Ottis Caine, Fair Hall Government School; Gaffiesha Smart, Calder Government School; Cassian Lavia, Sandy Bay Secondary School; Patrick Defreitas, St. Vincent Grammar School; Tara Richards, Questelles Government School, and Deantai Davis, Fair Hall Government School.

Provisions are being made for the involvement of participants from schools in the Grenadines.