‘Community life is the way to go’

CULTURE MINISTER Joan Yuille-Williams has urged village groups not to underestimate the power of community as the cradle of their development. Delivering the feature address at last Saturday’s prize-distribution ceremony for the 2004 Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition, held at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, Yuille-Williams said: “You must remember at all times that you came out of communities and you were given the opportunity to compete for individual and collective rewards, because you represented communities or community organisations. It is therefore your obligation to give something back to the community which nurtured your development.”

She pointed to the exposure past winners of the Best Village programme have obtained internationally, noting that despite their success those achievers saw it appropriate to maintain inextricable links with the community. Former Calypso Monarch Singing Sandra and Commonwealth Prize Winning author Dr Earl Lovelace were two among scores of past champions named for the magnanimous gestures in this regard. Yuille-Williams said coming out of the depth of stagnation four years ago, the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition has regained its status as the most successful community-oriented mobilisation initiative in the social sector.

Offering statistics in relation to increased participation in Best Village 2004, she said 47 groups contested the Folk Festival category; 71 competed in La Reine Rive; 162 took part in the Village Olympics; 48 offered works in the handicraft segment of the programme; and 153 in the Folk Fair feature. The minister declared that younger participants and more diverse ethnic groups “especially from central Trinidad” had become involved in the programme. Yuille-Williams added: “This profile means that the programme is advancing towards the objective of expanding the participation base to achieve a greater representation of the composition of our society.

“I am sure that our recipients now stand tall, basking in the pride and joy of being winners in the various categories of the Prime Minister’s Best Village competition. But the celebration of your accomplishments should not disguise or obliterate the role of the community as the cradle of your development.” Scores of recipients took the spotlight to receive accolades in various categories. However, the biggest winners on the night were Arouca Community Council which was adjudged the “Best Village Overall” taking home the $200,000 cash award and Miss La Reine Rive Jameelah Phillips, representing Barataria Community Council.