The future of the La Rose Festival is in good hands
|
|
|
Contact:
Shannon Lebourne Monday, August 31, 2009 – Young people from several rural communities around the island occupied the spotlight on Sunday, August 30th, 2009 at activities to celebrate the La Rose Festival in the community of Choiseul.
Executive Director of the Cultural Development Foundation Mr Kennedy “Boots” Samuel says the high level of youth participation was one of the highlights of this year's La Rose Festival.
Mr Samuel says youth participation and support is an indication that the future of the traditional flower festival is in good hands.
“Tremendous participation and you would recognise the amount of young people who are involved in the festival. A number of people often say pass on the tradition to the youth but we see down in the south that the youth are involved and are apart of the celebrations, so it is people who stand on the side and say La Rose is dying who are killing the festival but I say to them get involved and contribute, but indeed the La Rose Festival is still alive and well in Saint Lucia” said the Executive Director of the Cultural Development Foundation Mr Kennedy “Boots” Samuel.
Meanwhile, Mr Samuel is calling for more investment and support for traditional activities like the La Rose flower festival.
He says this is critical for the sustainable growth of the traditions for future generations.
“We need to get serious and put a lot more resources in the communities for the development of these traditions which make us who we are. There must be greater investments in the traditions, there was an attempt to do it with Carnival but it is not enough we really have to invest more resources”Mr Samuel added.
Sixteen La Rose groups participated in the celebrations on Sunday, which began with a church service before the traditional procession through the village of Choiseul and surrounding communities.
The feast of St. Rose de Lima is one of two flower festivals celebrated annually in Saint Lucia—the other festival being the La Marguerite Festival. |
|
© 2009 Government Information Service. All rights reserved. Read our privacy guidelines. |
