Over-subscribed! That’s one way to describe the CXC-sponsored CAPE Performing Arts two-day workshop held at the Error Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI), UWI Cave Hill Campus on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 August during CARIFESTA XIII.
“The fact that teachers were committed to coming for training for two days in the middle of CARIFESTA suggests their absolute desire for training. It also suggests that teachers desperately need training and that ministries of education should work with stakeholders including the EBBCI and CXC to ensure that this is done,” explained Dr Yvonne Weekes, Lecturer in Theatre at EBBCI and coordinator of the workshop.
Dr Weekes added that most teachers in their evaluation suggested that they would have liked to see a three to five-day workshop.
The two-day workshop initially catered for 30 participants, however, by the end of day one, there were 50 participants, and organisers did not want to turn away anyone. The workshop was divided into five themes: Business for the Arts, Dance, Music, Theatre and Film. All participants attended the Business for the Arts session which took place on the morning of day one. Dr Suzanne Burke, Lecturer at UWI St Augustine Campus facilitated the session which was very informative and interactive.
Participants then broke into the performance options: Dance was facilitated by Neila Ebanks, of the Edna Manley College of the Performing Arts; Theatre by Dr Yvonne Weekes, Lecturer in Theatre at the EBBCI, UWI, Cave Hill; Music by Dr Stefan Walcott, Lecturer and Musical Director; Film by Ms Melaine Springer, Producer/Director of Brownest Eye Productions; and
Participants at the workshop came from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, St Marten, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
See photos of workshop
The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has sent hurricane relief supplies to the island of St. Martin/St. Maarten which was battered by Hurricane Irma on August 6th. Irma hit the French/Dutch Island as a Category Five hurricane devastating most of the country and also causing extensive damage to the famous Princess Juliana International Airport.
Plans have been set afoot for Dominica to provide relief supplies to neighbouring islands battered by Hurricane Irma.
The Hon Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore is Chair of the Cabinet committee and chair of a joint private and public sector committee responding to hurricane Irma.
At a press conference on Monday, Hon Blackmoore confirmed that Dominica will focus on bringing relief supplies primarily to St. Martin, Anguilla and Tortola. “What is mostly needed now in terms of relief items, water and dry goods,” Hon Blackmoore informed.
Disaster Management Consultant, Cecil Shillingford gave more details on the relief supplies that will leave the island on Tuesday.
St. Martin will receive two 20ft containers, one with water and the other with dry goods while Tortola and Anguilla will each receive one 20ft container mixed with water and dry goods.
“This is just the initial shipment; for that shipment we are looking specifically at food ready-to-eat…,” Shillingford explained.
The goods put together by private companies will be taken to DEXIA and transported to Portsmouth from where they will be shipped using private boats.
The Government of Dominica will underwrite the cost of this relief effort.
The Disaster Management Consultant also informed that individuals and organisations wanting to make donations will soon receive further details on how these efforts will be coordinated.
Government has also set up a bank account at the National Bank of Dominica, the Hurricane Irma relief fund, individuals or organizations can make contributions using the account number 615000493.
