Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 17, 2019 (SKNIS): The 2019 National Best Village Competition, which is aimed at the beautification and preservation of communities and the promotion of community togetherness was officially launched at Independence Square on Friday, May 17, 2019.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Carlene Henry-Morton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, stated that any community beautification exercise, such as the competition, is an investment in the citizens and residents of the island.
“Individually and collectively, we are going to be the primary beneficiaries and end users of anything that we do,” she said. “[We will achieve] cleaner, healthier communities, pride of place, developing a united vision about what we want for our communities and a sense of purpose as we work together to improve our island home.”
Mrs. Morton stated that the competition will result in a more attractive and appealing tourism product to be shared with others.
“We are not doing it just for the tourists. We are doing it primarily for ourselves and positioning ourselves to be better able to share it with our visitors when they come on island,” she said. “We will continue to make St. Kitts the ideal place to live and to experience.”
Mrs. Morton stated that the ministry has become involved in the concept of ensuring that all communities in St. Kitts are able to offer a unique experience.
“We are saying at the Ministry of Tourism that where communities are concerned this should be our individual and collective aspiration that is, making sure that anywhere our visitors go on island that they have things to do,” she said.
The permanent secretary extended a profound thanks to the partners of the competition noting that they have continuously supported the Ministry of Tourism whether in coin or in kind.
Partners include the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC), Parks and Beaches Unit, St. Kitts-Nevis National Trust, Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Development, Ross University, Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP), the Planning Unit, TDC, Horsford’s and a number of small entrepreneurs.
Registration takes place during the entire month of May 2019. The final judging of the competition will take place in November 2019 during Tourism Awareness Month. Preliminary judging will take place in July and September.
