Officials are confident that this year’s Holetown Festival will have a positive economic impact on vendors, artists, the hospitality industry and other stakeholders.
However, Member of Parliament (MP) for St James North Edmund Hinkson is hoping a festival pageant and talent show will return to the annual event.
“The festival serves as an opportunity for local economic activity, which is so important, especially for small business persons, craft producers, artists, hospitality practitioners, entertainers and food vendors,” he said during yesterday’s opening ceremony.
“We look forward to money being circulated in the economy not only of St James, but of the whole of Barbados within the next week, the next month and indeed this whole year,” he said.
Hinkson applauded the involvement of several young people, including students from St Alban’s Primary School and St James Primary School who participated in the ceremony. St Alban’s student Malissa Ifill officially opened the festival, while students from St James Primary sang the National Anthem.
He, however, pointed out that the pageant which was a key aspect of the festival, was missing from the list of events for another year.
“I remember when I was an Opposition MP, there used to be on the Saturday night a talent show held, including, if I remember, a beauty pageant and talent show.
“That needs to come back. I’m not sure where it fell by the wayside but that show must also encompass the talents of our males and not only of our females,” he said.
He suggested that kind of developmental activity was needed to help guide young people.
“In the midst of this week’s entertainment and activities, however, I urge the organisers and patrons to locate as a priority for future festivities the development of our young people within the context of our heritage.
Duty
“We as political leaders, as well as community practitioners in our new republic, have a duty to do all that is possible to ensure that all of our young people realise their full potential as an integral part of our future cultural
heritage and let future festivities therefore have a component of mentorship of our youth.”
He added: “Let’s have greater involvement of our schools from a human development perspective in the festival as we encourage themes such as conflict resolution, anger management, team building, critical thinking among fundamental aspects of our cultural heritage and cultural development of our people,” he added.
The opening ceremony featured the marquee parade with several performers portraying imperial English characters.
The Haynesville Youth Group, tuk band, dancers and singer Kiane Browne performed at the opening. Festival ambassador Hypasounds also attended the event.
Ten-year-old Ifill agreed that the youth need support and good mentorship to succeed.
“We are calling for lasting change. We need real opportunities to succeed in education, entrepreneurship, the arts and more. We need safe spaces to grow, mentorship to guide us and parents who believe in us even when we stumble.
“We don’t just want to see professionals like lawyers or judges when things go wrong, we need them before that. We need leaders and investors who invest in us from the beginning guiding us to success,” Ifill said.
The festival will run until February 16 under the theme Elements Of Nature: We Gather, We Celebrate.
Some of the activities include the Alfred Pragnell Memorial Talk, a mixologist competition, a historic bus tour and the tattoo featuring the Barbados Police Service. (TG)
