New Grounds Does It Again!!

The New Grounds Lighting Committee has once again captured the title of ‘Best Lit Community’, gaining for itself a fourth consecutive title – the best results in the history of the activity.

As it has been doing for some time, the Committee once again strung lights on the grounds of the New Grounds Primary School, an undertaking that, according to Coordinator of the group, Mr. Jason Villaroel, took the group approximately three and a half days of arduous work to complete.

Creating Paradise

Villaroel told THE VINCENTIAN that work commenced on Friday, 16th after the closure of the school for the Christmas vacation.  The work began with some lights salvaged from last year’s lighting, and continued with new ones that the Committee purchased with monies received from a “stipend from the National Nine Mornings Committee”, and with funds raised by the group, according to Villaroel.

The official lighting ceremony took place on Tuesday, 20th December.

Christmas Paradise

Their theme this year was ‘Christmas Paradise’, and while the central theme of Christmas was highlighted, the objective was to “create a venue where people can come with their families and hang out”.

The production included a nativity scene and other depictions of Bible-based stories about Christmas.  It also featured many “scenes that one can associate with paradise”, e.g. unicorns, areas designated as a ‘Paradise Forest’ and another ‘Paradise Falls’, and a huge cake with tall bottles of drinks.

Other winners

The National Lighting Competition was organized in five zones, encompassing the length and breadth of SVG.  Winners were chosen in each zone, with the final winners being selected from these.  Coming in second behind New Grounds in the ‘2011 National Nine Mornings Lighting Competition’ was Rose Bank, with Point Village in Sandy Bay placing third.
The ‘Best Lit Garden’ went to ‘Ces for West’ in Arnos Vale, with the ‘Richmond Hill Gardens’ placing second.

The ‘Best Lit Private Home’ went to Mrs. Olivia Da Silva of Mesopotamia, while Mr. Jimmy Samuel of Rillan Hill came in second.

Stubbs was named the ‘Best Nine Mornings Community’, with Carrierre, Richland Park and Point Village coming in second, third and fourth respectively.

Honorees

This year’s Nine Mornings festivities have been hailed to be very successful, by Chairman of the National Nine Mornings Committee, Mr. Michael Peters.

His comments came on the conclusion of the festival in Kingstown on Saturday, 24th December.  Emphatically agreeing with Chairman Peters was Hon. Frederick Stephens, Minister of Culture who, at the same function, boldly called Nine Mornings “the best festival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

This year, the newly formed Vincentian Association of Artists, Producers and Writers sought to fulfill its mandate by honouring three icons of the ‘Vincentian Christmas Culture’.  
Among those honoured was Carlton ‘CP’ Hall, otherwise called ‘Mr. Christmas’.  He is credited with writing and performing a number of well- known songs around the theme of Christmas and Nine Mornings, that have grown into what is considered anthems of the festivities.

Also recognized was Michael Peters, current Chairman of the National Nine Mornings Committee, who has been intimately involved in the revamping of the festival.  The format of the festival over the recent past owes much to Mr. Peters’ input.

Mr. Lennox Bowman, one of a group of siblings who have been unofficially called the ‘First Family of Nine Mornings’, was also honoured by the Association.   Bowman, a song writer and performing artiste, among other things, has been credited with initiating the idea of the National Lighting activities.


Source of article:
by Gloriah...
The Vincentian
30/12/2011
www.thevincentian.com