Uncategorized

Junior Monarch an investment in the future

Developing Barbados’ next generation of griots is at the core of the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Competition. Andrea Wells, Chief Cultural Officer at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), reaffirmed that commitment to attendees of the recent launch, at Scotiabank’s office in Warrens, St. Michael.

“It is extremely important to us at the NCF that expressions of our culture through the arts, in this instance through calypso [and soca] are refined, facilitated and showcased,” She said to the contestants, parents, guardians and various representatives.

“Any activity that highlights the best forms of Barbadian culture must be embraced and upheld by the National Cultural Foundation as guardians of Barbadian heritage.”

Wells also expressed the NCF’s gratitude for title sponsor Scotiabank’s involvement in incubating the talents of young practitioners, that goes beyond the financial donation: “You believe what we believe: that the best way to preserve our cultural heritage is to invest in our youth.”

The chief cultural officer used the 2022 Courtesy Garage Pic-o-de-Crop Finals, where five former Junior Monarch contestants made the finals which was eventually won by two-time champion Quon, as a small example of the result borne from the over 25-year symbiotic relationship.

Carol Boyce, Retail, Small Business Needs – Scotiabank, reiterated the bank’s dedication to investing in the competition, saying it “holds such a special place in our hearts” as it “not only as it provides young people with the opportunity to recognise their singing potential but also because it keeps our culture alive.”

Before they face the judges, the 25 semi-finalists will benefit from workshops facilitated by NCF and Scotiabank to hone their creative (songwriting, performing, artistry etc.) and professional (music business, financial literacy etc.) skills from some of the island’s legendary entertainers, and former calypso and soca monarchs, including Stedson ‘Red Plastic Bag’ Wiltshire, Ian ‘iWeb’ Webster, and Terencia ‘TC’ Coward.

Kevin Moore, Cultural Officer, Music Education at the NCF and producer of the event, promises that the competition will be “yet again an amazing display of the vocal and performance skills and talents of our young people.”

The 2023 competition staged in two categories, has seen contestants ranging from ages 7 to 18 hailing from various participating primary, secondary and tertiary schools across the island, including Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School, Deighton Griffith Secondary School, and Samuel Jackman Prescod – Institute of Technology.

The Irving Wilson School for the Blind Deaf and Autistic had its first participant in the competition through Rashad ‘King Shad’ Applewhaite, participating in the soca category with his song ‘Jam Down.’

Reigning 2022 Scotiabank Junior Monarchs’ Yahandje Daniel and Shontae Alleyne-Clarke were on hand at the launch to perform (“Tek de wine” and “Party Nice Again” respectively) and encourage their counterparts.

“Don’t be discouraged by the low points in this journey. Use them as motivation and teaching tools to better yourself,” said Daniel.

Alleyne-Clarke told her peers to grab hold of the opportunity.

“Learn as much as you can from the mentorship process, work on your stagecraft, mould yourself into being the best artistic version of you and always, always give of your best. You’re going to get a lot of comments, you’re going to get a lot of things people will say that will try to trigger you, but stay focused, and stay in your zone… have confidence in your song and yourself,” she said.

The Scotiabank Junior Monarch Finals comes off on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Garfield Sobers Complex. (PR)

Uncategorized

CIBC Caribbean team cleans Drill Hall Beach

A team of about 50 volunteers from CIBC Caribbean and their families joined hundreds around the world on Saturday 21^st September for the start of the International Coastal Clean-up – the world’s largest annual volunteer effort created to tackle and clean up increasing levels of trash and debris which are impacting our delicate marine environment.

Armed with gloves and lots of energy, the team assembled on the Drill Hall Beach, St. Michael from as early as 6.30a.m., and with the help of the crew from the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) they started the task of collecting trash left by people who use the popular beach.

*Jacquelyn Boyce (right) marks off the items brought in by her team as they collect the debris*

The Barbados International Coastal Clean-up (BICC) is an annual nationwide volunteer beach cleanup event which is coordinated by Barbados’ Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), a non-profit organization. This year the cleanup for Barbados will take place every Saturday until the end of October in an attempt to tackle and prevent the damage being done to our local marine environment by trash and debris on our beautiful beaches.

*The CIBC Caribbean team armed with the gloves and bags just before setting off on their clean-up mission*

On Saturday, all materials collected were carefully catalogued and recorded as the CYEN team uses this information to report into the international network to which they belong, about the items found on beaches across the region.

Within a two-hour window, the CIBC Caribbean team had collected 108.39 kgs of garbage which included food wrappers and containers, plastic beverage bottles, clothing, pieces of glass, cups, plates, grocery bags, micro plastics and bottle caps. They also removed pieces of wood and a discarded office chair with wheels. The group also moved the fallen dry palm tree fronds to a large pile for further removal.

*Sean Bostic and Krystle Maynard (right holding card) present the sponsorship card to Shannon Weekes and Jabari Jones of the CYEN*

“The cleanup at Drill Hall Beach highlights the ongoing commitment of Barbadians to safeguarding our coastal environment. As we work together to remove harmful debris, we not only protect our marine ecosystems but also strengthen our communities. Each piece of litter removed is a step toward a healthier, more sustainable future for Barbados, and we are proud to have CIBC contributing to this vital cause year after year. This effort is a reminder that protecting our beaches is not just an annual event but a shared responsibility for all of us,” stated National Coordinator for the CYEN in Barbados Shannon Weekes.

The bank also took the opportunity to present the CYEN with a donation towards their work in keeping the beaches clean by organising the clean-up exercises this year. The super-size credit card was presented by Krystle Maynard from the Treasury Department and Sean Bostic Senior Manager, Business Analysis, Performance & Analytics.

This is the third year that the bank has participated in the beach cleanup. Other beaches they have tackled include Sam Lord’s Castle Beach, St. Philip and Pirate’s Cove Beach in Bridgetown. (PR)

Uncategorized

VENEZUELANS TO VOTE SUNDAY JULY 28

Venezuela’s opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, says he trusts the country’s military to ensure respect for the result of Sunday’s presidential election. Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Mr. Gonzalez declared that the Opposition, is going to win because millions of Venezuelans want change.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, has attracted significant support, even from former supporters of the ruling socialist party.

Uncategorized

Mr Deejay first on stage at Finals

First-timer to the competition Mr Deejay will be start the competition when the Courtesy Garage Pic O De Crop Finals comes of next Friday, August 2 at the National Botanical Gardens at 8 p.m.

This is the first time in the history of the competition that a visually-impaired contestant has made it to the Finals. The Courtesy Garage Pic O De Crop Finals Draw was held Wednesday, July 24 at Courtesy’s Wildey showroom. There were no switches.

Reigning Monarch iWeb will perform at No. 15. I-Web was unable to attend the draw. However, his manager Brian Corbin was present and pulled on his behalf. TC pulled for Tae who came later while Merle Niles pulled for Biggie Irie who was present. The other finalists were present as well as tent managers, relatives andwell-wishers.

National Cultural Foundation Chief Executive Officer Carol Robers announced that the Finals will be streamed to Barbadians free of cost as a gift for the 50^th anniversary of Crop Over. Courtesy Garage’s Regional Product Manager Samuel Gaston reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the festival.

*NCF CEO Carol Roberts (left) (EDIT) Courtesy Garage’s Regional Product Manager Samuel Gaston and Acting General Manager Andrez Greene.*

The draw took place in the Courtesy Garage showroom where the 2024 Nissan E Power X-Trail was on show. This year the winner of the Courtesy Garage Pic O De Crop Competition has the option of driving away a brand new Nissan vehicle valued at $136 000 or take $100 000 in cash. Second place gets $40 000;

third place $20 000 and fourth place takes home $15 000. 5^th place gets $10 000;