By Ketricia Finch
St. Kitts Reporter
Six sponsorship packages were donated by local business institutions to the 2007 St. Kitts Nevis Music Festival. The official handing over ceremonies took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at Warner Park. On Tuesday, the official shipper, Tropical Shipping, Carib Brewery (St. Kitts Nevis) Ltd., the exclusive beer of the festival and the principal sponsor, a major telecommuncations provider in the Federation, presented their donations.
Kittitian Hill/Terra Forma Development Ltd. and the St. Christopher Air and Seaport Authority handed over their donations on Wednesday.
Bernie Greaux, manager of Tropical Shipping, made his presentation on behalf of the management and staff of the company. Greaux said it’s always an honour to be partnering with the government and ministry and he extended his best wishes towards the festival. Carib Brewery and Cable and Wireless are long term sponsors. The chairman of the music festival, Faron Lawrence said Carib Brewery has increased its contribution this year and they have been a part of the festival since it first started.
“We are very grateful for the support that Carib Brewery continue to give us,” Lawrence said.
This year is Kittitian Hill/Terra Forma Development Ltd., previously known as Kittitian Heights’ second appearance as sponsor of the music festival.
Gillian Crooke, project officer, presented the sponsorship package on behalf of Kittitian Hill.
Techell Maclean, finance statistics officer of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Authority presented the company’s donation. The St. Christopher Air and Seaport Authority has also partnered with the music festival for the past eleven years.
Stanley Franks, executive of the festival expressed thanks to all the sponsors of this year’s festival.
Tickets for the 11th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival are now available at the following outlets: Music Festival Office (Pelican Mall), Tony Berry, Island Hopper (St. Kitts and Nevis), Sunsurf Internet Café and the Ticket Centre.
The St. Kitts Nevis Music Festival Committee plans on hosting several activities in the square starting from next week Wednesday and will end on Friday June 22, 2007. On Wednesday it will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end around 5:00 p.m. On Thursday and Friday the concert will begin the same time as Wednesday and end around 3 p.m.
The committee promises to have a number of bands present including Nu Vybz, D’ Vybz, Lights Out, Kollision Band and Four Play. Ten of our top calypsonians will also perform and six local models will take part in a fashion show.
The Observer spoke to Juni Liburd concerning the matter of marketing setbacks for this year’s festival.
“I think that the ministry responsible for the music festival cut back on the number of things we use to do in the past in order to save funds. The only thing that is there is the cross-the-street banners. We used to have posters on the streets and flyers to hand out to people. We don’t have that anymore. We use to have flyers at the airport for people coming in and going out of the country. All these things are cost-cutting procedures.
“We still have radio and television ads. All the local radio stations have music festival ads running including 94.1 and VON Radio in Nevis. We have radio ads running in St. Maarten on the Lady Grace show, Martinique and Guadeloupe, Miami, Canada and New York. For the television ads, Hype TV and ZIZ,” Liburd said.
Ticket sales officially started earlier this week.
