Antigua Folk Dance Festival Launch

The Antigua Dance Academy is preparing to host the second Folk Dance Festival entitled 'Out of the Drum'. The festival has attracted groups from Tobago - Hands of Rhythms, Nevis - I-Afrikana Drummers and Rhythmz Dance Theatre, Montserrat - Emerald Shamioles Masquerade Dancers, Guadeloupe - Kombo: The Heart of Quadeloupe, Trinidad - Shashamane Dance Ensemble, and various dance groups from Antigua and Barbuda.

The Festival will be held from May 22nd to the 25th.

Festival Director and Founder of the Antigua Dance Academy Veronica Yearwood says preparations for the next festival geared for 2010 will begin as soon as this year's festival ends on the 26th of May.

To honour the second hosting of folk dance festival this year, the school has opened an office that will be open to the public from 10.30 a.m to 3 p.m to facilitate inquiries.

Gang ViolenceUpdate

The recently concluded Gang Violence workshop seems to have exceeded the Minister of Justice and Public Safety's expectations.
At least 300 students from schools around the island, instead of the 100 anticipated, turned up to participate in the proceedings. They took part in a survey and simulated scenarios about their perception of figures in authority like the police.
Senator Colin Derrick speaking on one of the popular radio talk shows this morning says the survey should yield insights into how gang violence can be dealt with.
He also says recommendations will be forthcoming in three weeks time. Only part of the report will be revealed to the public, while certain security related strategies will be kept under close wraps.
Looking forward to lessening crime on the beautiful twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda.

Gang Violence

The Ministry of Justice and Public Safety in Antigua and Barbuda recently hosted a two day workshop from April 14th to the 15th, that examined gang violence and its implications on the twin island state.
Drawing on expertise from the Organisation of American States (OAS), the ministry is seeking to come up with strategies of how to deal with the growing problem.
According to Minister of Justice Senator Colin Derrick in his opening address at least 12 gangs have been identified and while the majority of the members come from primarily low income areas, it is not unheard of for members to be recruited from well to do families.

The workshop is timely but it remains to be seen if government and other community based groups are willing to help curb this problem by actually coming up with viable suggestions /plans and that its not just talking to appease the public.
To find out more about the negative influence of gang violence check out the two websites and maybe you may have some ideas of how to stop it from escalating.

http://www.vpcla.org/factGang.htm

www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/1376.html

Culture Diversity week celebrations

Thank you for visiting my world.
I have added a few more elements to my blog like the slide show at the top to give you a proper sense of life on the island.
Visited Fort James last Saturday when I took my nephew for swimming lessons and walked around the area.
Antigua and Barbuda's beauty never ceases to amaze me, and how blind we sometimes get focusing on work and family.

To appreciate the treasures that we often take for granted I took shots of the Anglican Church in St. Johns on my way from work, and as I go about trying to justify my salary, images that catch my eye.

The Culture Development department revealed their plans for this year's Culture Diversity celebrations week by unveiling several additions to the programme.These include a pageant, schools representing a particular country and 10x10 cricket tournament.

Culture Minister Eleston 'Namba' Adams flanked by Ag. Director of Culture Gilbert Luadat and Participating countries representative Maureen Lee Simon says this year's festival has attracted six more countries increasing the number to thirteen compared to seven in 2007.The celebrations start on April 27th until June 1st.

Please enjoy the Uprising dancers performing at the launch.