Point Village wins Lighting Competition for the 10th year

Residents of Point Village are planning a big celebration for their tenth consecutive win of the Vinlec Community Lighting Competition for 2022.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT chair of the Point light up committee, Floret Daniel, said this season is one of both mourning and celebration for them.

On December 14, members of the light up committee were plunged into mourning with the death of Janice Baptiste who had been ailing for sometime. She was the mother of two of the three key persons responsible for the design of the lights in Point Village.

Chair of the Point light up committee, Floret Daniel

Baptiste was the mother of Deslyn Daniel and Hazley Roberts who were able to push through their grief to design the beautiful lights in Point.

Another designer, Keon Daniel, is an in law to Baptiste, and the three designers and the deceased all lived in the same house at Old Sandy Bay.

When news of the death spread in the village, many persons were wondering if the light up would have to be cancelled.

But they all mustered that inner strength and worked diligently to bring Christmas cheer to their community through the lights, despite their own sadness over the loss of their loved one.
It was also a rough time for Floret Daniel, as Chair of the committee.

“I was her caretaker and I was there when she died, we were all mourning and grieving, but with God, the light up was still possible.”

While the committee is planning a big celebration they have not yet finalised details for the event.

“It feels great,” Daniel said, speaking of the announcement that Point Village had won this year’s Community Lighting Competition.

The small village which is nestled between Old Sandy Bay and Owia, has won the coveted title since 2012.

“This is our tenth time winning, and we are so excited…we must have a grand celebration,” Daniel told SEARCHLIGHT.

This year, the lights in Point were turned on on December 17, with a spectacular show which wowed residents and visitors alike.

Daniel said the theme for this years light up was “Christmas on Point- we celebrating in style.”

“We were confident of winning this year again, the people of Point expected it also,” Daniel said.

The designer who is a resident of the now popular village, said over the years, they have been consistent with the way they present their lights.

“We take our time to make out designs and we buy our lights and put everything together.”

Apart from the work of the three designers, other villagers came together to cut and work with the bamboo and to tape the lights together.

Describing Point as a “very quiet community,” Daniel said everyone was looking forward to the lights and they did not want anyone to be disappointed by not following through with plans to light up.

So although someone close to the persons responsible for the lighting had died, the community spirit came alive and gave Point its 10th victory.

Speaking on NBC radio on Wednesday, December 28, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves spoke glowingly of the lights in Point.

He said he went there on Christmas Eve (December 24) and beheld the amazing creation of lights.

“That’s a community working together,” the prime minister concluded.