Mr. Mark Romney
LIME Anguilla announced on Tuesday the sponsorship of three main events of the Summer Festival in the sum of over one hundred thousand EC dollars.
LIME’s General Manager, Mark Romney, told reporters that the sponsorship underscored the company’s commitment to the continued development of Anguilla’s culture.
The three sponsorships are as follows: US$6,000 for the staging of the Class A Boat Race on August Monday at Sandy Ground; the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition: US$15,000; and US$8,700 for Pantha Vibes International to ensure that the popular band is on the road for J’ouvert morning and to assist with the production of its 2013 CD.
Mr Romney also announced that LIME was on target with the presentation of its own events: the Groovy Monarch Competition and the Power Soca Competition this Friday night. The cost to stage the events is US$12,000.
“We will also be on the streets during the grand parade and thus far we have also made contributions to three troupes: the Island Majorettes; Fantasy 264; and the Blowing Point Youth and Culture Development Centre.” Romney said. “All in all, LIME will be on the streets, on the sea, and everywhere possible, so that people will really see that we are truly giving back to our community – and are very much a key sponsor for the staging of this year’s Summer Festival.”
Chairman of the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition, Joseph Vanterpool, said the major expense of the event, for his sub-committee, was the cost of housing and food for the calypso singers. He added that they were paying their own travel expenses.
Chairman of the Boat Racing Committee, Paul Romney, said a total of seventeen boats would be participating in the August Monday race and that the money would be used for prizes. He stated that the Government was also expected to contribute to the cost of the boat-racing – particularly the consolation prizes for participation.
Shea-Shea, the 2012 calypso monarch, speaking on behalf of Pantha Vibes, thanked LIME for its continued support. “I have been with the band for about five carnivals now, and I think that anyone looking on can see that the cost is ridiculous for bands to go on the road every year, producing CDs, T-shirts etc. – and all of that is a lot of cost,” she stated. “LIME has always been there to give its financial support.”
LIME’s Marketing Manager, Jade Reymond, took the opportunity to invite the general public to all the events for the Summer Festival, but particularly the Soca Monarch Competition on Friday, August 2, at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre; the August Monday boat race; and the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition on August 10.
