“Celebrating Longevity, Reflecting on Life” was the theme for the launch of the 5th Annual 2019-2020 Culture & Arts Calendar. The event, held by the Department of Youth and Culture on Monday, March 4, at the St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church Conference Centre, attracted a capacity crowd from across the island.
Among the attendees, in the words of Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Youth and Culture, were centenarians (persons between 100 and 109 years old) and nonagenarians (those between 90 and 99 years old). The eldest person at the calendar launch was Mrs. Ursilla Connor of South Hill, now 105 years. Considerably active, alert and talkative, she was given the honour to unveil the cultural calendar, much to the applause of the audience.
“It is a privilege to interact with our elders, to learn from them and to benefit from their wisdom,” Mr. Connor said. “We are grateful to God Almighty for granting them long life and good health.
“We are thankful as well for their families, friends and wider communities that embrace, love and care for them. Nothing is more desirous in this world than a long, happy and fruitful life. It is for this reason that this year’s Culture and Arts Calendar is dedicated to our centenarians and nonagenarians, under the theme ‘Celebrating Longevity, Reflecting on Life.”’
Mr. Connor continued: “The calendar, now its fifth publication, is a creative vehicle designed to celebrate heritage and share different aspects of our cultural heritage; and sharing it in a manner that inspires, honours and celebrates our uniqueness as a people.”
He stressed that the Government of Anguilla had a role to play in creating an enabling environment to cater for the general wellbeing of the populace. He explained that this was in terms of recreational and sporting facilities to encourage and support physical activity and access to health education and care. “These are but a few ways that the Government, working in collaboration with stakeholders, can continue to encourage and support our fellow citizens who are making the necessary life changes,” he stated. “The aim is to support a long and healthy lifestyle for citizens in their communities.”
He took the opportunity to congratulate the Department of Youth and Culture for the special edition of the calendar.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, joined in commending the department’s personnel for the publication. “The calendar contains a collection of stories, photos, recipes, sayings and other cultural items to be cherished far beyond the life of the publication,” she observed. “Our elders demonstrate that our culture is alive and well, and is shared in these pages. More importantly, the culture transcends these honoured persons and is delivered on to our children and their children.”
She added: “We are grateful to all who contributed to the calendar – including the family members who shared the cultural information which made this production possible. Thanks as well to all other persons who played a part in making this happen. It is really a very special publication and indeed a valuable gift.”
Ms. Avon Carty, who gave an overview of the calendar, said in part: “We featured fourteen elderly persons. We interviewed them for their stories, got recipes and other information from them as we undertook to celebrate their lives. The calendars are being sold at Five US dollars each.”
Some of the recipes, Ms. Carty spoke about, formed part of the refreshments served at the end of the launch. These included cookie dumplings, corn soup, Johnny cakes, sorrel and mauby drinks.
The event also included presentations by Anguillian calypsonian and entertainer, Mr. Alfred Gumbs, who resides in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and Mr. Johnny Lloyd (The Mighty Springer) and his band.
