It is with great euphoria and gratitude that I write this article. Stages Anguilla’s cast and crew just returned from Barbados after representing Anguilla among a 32-member contingent, 
headed by the Department of Youth and Culture’s Programme Director, Avon Carty. The delegation was made up of Queen B, Pokeyman, Louise Brooks, Vanessa Croft, Courtney & Carol Devonish, four young men of the ALHCS Music Band and 14 members of Stages Anguilla. We were slated to perform at various venues during a 10-day period.
Even though the organization of the entire festival was marked with organizational challenges, we still managed to present stellar performances. We were fortunate to grab the attention of the CBC camera men from our arrival at the airport with our articulate and magnetic interviews. This gave us an edge and the CBC cameras followed us through our performances at all outlying, rural areas.
Kudos to all our performers, from THE OPENING CEREMONY to each of our performances. The experiences garnered will certainly concretize the confidence in our YOUNG PERFORMERS particularly. They can now call themselves professionals.
STAGES ANGUILLA extends sincerest of gratitude to the following – without whose contributions our participation in this year’s Carifesta would not have been possible:
SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD, DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH & CULTURE, NAGICO-ANGUILLA, ANGLEC, ANGUILLA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, FUNTIME CHARTERS, LEVITICUS LIFESTYLES, ANGUILLA MASONARY, ANGUILLA MUSIC ACADEMY, PARADISE COVE, TROPICAL DISTRIBUTORS. Also to all who contributed in any way, we thank you.
To all parents of Stages’ students, especially Janine Edwards, Rosanna Browne, Jocelyn Johnson, Dr. Indira Singh and Dr. & Mrs. Guinto – a sincere thank you.
Special thanks to Mrs. Maxine Alonzo and Mr Cecil Chin. Well done. Ms. Erlene White, thank you. Students / actors , all – Nandi Edwards, Olinka Harrigan, Alvanique Frank, Rhonica Connor, Joshua Minott, Janet Guzman, Alysha Carty , Louis Guinto and Charisma Jones-Chin and the four Musicians of the ALHCS school band who accom
panied our performances – Azariah Carty, Michael Christie, Michael Martin Jr. and Damari Gumbs you guys were phenomenal. Thanks to Mrs. Daphne Jacobs and Dumpa Martin for your unselfish, untiring nurturing of our young minds.
With all the experienced garnered, I am certain that we are all ready to represent Anguilla in CARIFESTA X1V in Trinidad & Tobago with bigger panache.
Collette Jones-Chin, Founder and Director – STAGES ANGUILLA
