The West Fest, one of the newest events in Anguilla, was held over a two-day period on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, and The East End Village ‘Ting, now in its 6th year, took place on the official Queen’s Birthday Holiday, on Monday, June 11.
The West End event commenced with what was called “the first Jouvay in the West” – a carnival-like jam session staged by The West Committee in collaboration with Crucial Movements and Creative Entertainment. There was a dense dancing crowd which wended its way from the stop light at the Long Bay junction to The West Fest site at Meads Bay. That early-morning event not only provided fun and entertainment for many persons, but also served as a means of attracting more people later in the day to The West Fest feting and boat-racing activities.
Mr. Cardigan Connor, the Elected Representative for West End, a keen West Fest organiser and committee member, missed the first day of the event as he was on official business in New York – but he was most present on the second day for the climaxing of the event. He told The Anguillian newspaper that The West Fest was now one of the emerging festivals in Anguilla. It came about as a result of efforts by the pioneers of boat-racing in West End to keep the traditional sport as well as musical entertainment alive there.
He was pleased that this year’s West Fest began with a street jam and that there were two successful A and B class boat races with two laps outside the Meads Bay area providing a welcome view for tourists at hotels and villas along the coastline. Mr. Connor was particularly grateful to the many sponsors whose assistance contributed significantly to The West Fest.
There were some five boats in the B-class race on Saturday which saw a close and hard fight, for the stake, between two of the leading boats – De Storm which placed number one and Stay Up which came number two within just a second. In third place was Higher Heights. The other competing boats were Dark Shadows and Tornado.
Five other boats participated in the A class race on Sunday. Their positions in the race were: Satellite 1st; Real Deal 2nd and Blue Bird 3rd. The others in the race were: Light ‘N Peace 5th and De Tree.
The sponsors of the West Fest were: Flow, Social Security Board, Anguilla Tourist Board, ANGLEC, John Howard, Carimar Beach Club; Greig’s Trucking; Tropical Distributors; Titanium Sounds, Black Orchard; Herbert Group & 264 BikeLife; Funtime Charters; and West End Service Station.
Supporting contributors were: The Royal Anguilla Police Force; Creative Ent; Crucial Movements; Infusion XL; Tackle Box; Beach Happy; Boat Racers; Local Radio Stations; The Anguillian newspaper; Remi; all Entertainers; the Anguilla Culinary Team, Ron Webster; Synergy, Frontline Band; DJ Tights; DL Stickit; DJ Stylez; DJ Suga; DJ Kue; Pantha; Exodus HD; Big Rash; Shea Shea; Bookie; Deej Vybz and DaLion.
