This year marks the 35th edition of the King of Nevis Festival, Culturama.

Mr. Halstead Sooty Byron is the proud Chairman of Culturama 2009. He announced that due to present economic challenges being experienced globally, the Nevis Culturama Committee was forced to scale back on the activities for this years festival.

So, instead of a 13 day festival, which would have started on July 23, the festival would now run for six days, from July 30 to August 4, 2009.

Culturama Events have officially launched! Mark down your favorite Culturama Events on your calendar.

Preliminary events that already took place include:

Introduction of Ms Culture Queen Pageant Contestants
Press Conference Launch of Culturama 35
Breakfast and Cake Sale
Culturama 35 Street Bash
Fashion Show featuring ALL Contestants
Senior Kaiso Quarter Finals - Jonieka Smithen and Bryton Nisbett of the Charlestown Primary School walked away happily last evening with the Mr. and Miss Talented Youth title.

EVENTS TO COME INCLUDE:
Friday July 24, 2009 at 8pm - Ms Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant
Saturday July 25, 2009 at 8pm - Senior Kaiso Semi Finals Contest
Sunday July 26, 2009 at 8pm - Ms Culture Swim Suit Contest
Thursday July 30, 2009 - Villa Grounds at 9pm - Department of Agriculture Fruit Festival
Thursday July 30, 2009 at 7:30pm - Official Opening Ceremony for Culturama 35
Thursday July 30, 2009 at 8pm - Mr. and Ms Talented Youth Pageant and Junior Kaiso Contest
Friday July 31, 2009 at 9pm - Culturama 35 Clash of D’Bands
Saturday August 1, 2009 - Villa Grounds at 7pm - Culturama 35 Food Fair
Saturday August 1, 2009 at 9pm - Senior Kaiso Finals
Sunday August 2, 2009 at 12pm - Culturama 35 Drag Racing
Sunday August 2, 2009 at 8pm - Ms Culture Queen Pageant
Monday August 3, 2009 at 5am - Emancipation J’ouvert Jump Up
Monday August 3, 2009 at 2pm - Don Bartlette Memorial Race Meet
Monday August 3, 2009 at 9pm - Culturama 35 Freedom Concert - Featuring Reggae’s Mega Superstar LUCIANO-the Musical Messenjah
Tuesday August 4, 2009 at 1pm - Culturama 35 Cultural Street Parade and Last Lap
Saturday 15 August, 2009 at 8pm - Culturama 35 Prize Giving Ceremony

Read up on the History of Culturama to get the details of why it is so popularly celebrated.

To get more details, here is some contact information:
Nevis Cultural Foundation
Cotton Ginery Mall
(869) 469-1992
email: info@nevisculturamafestival.com
website: www.nevisculturamafestival.com

Nevis Lover ~ Becca Briley

If you are planning for an amazing Nevis Vacation, just how are you getting there? Most travel by plane, but you can get there by boat as well.

Here is a bit of investigative information for you, the Nevis Traveler, like myself.

In the Caribbean, American Eagle has two flights per day from San Juan. Other airline service is also available from Antigua and St. Maarten. Fly into St. Kitts and take a ferry ride over to Nevis Island.

Cheaper flights are most often available in the low season, June 1 to November 30, mainly becuase this is thought to be hurricane season. The shoulder season is often cheaper too, which goes from about April 15 to June 1. Airfare is pretty much most pricey during the peak season, lasting from December to early April, and during holidays. This is when people really love to TRAVEL TO NEVIS.

So, what kind of numbers are we looking at here? Well, low season can range between $500 to $600 round-trip, and between $700 and $1,000 in peak season.

FYI - Here are some great travel tips that could help you on your Nevis Vacation!

1. Don’t forget your passport! All passengers must show a valid passport and a return ticket upon arrival to Nevis West Indies. U.S. and Canadian citizens need proof of citizenship: a passport, birth certificate or voters’ registration card. U.S. residents need their green card.

2. Tip your servers as you would if you were at home. Ten, 15, to 20 percent is the norm, based on the service of course. Some restaurants and hotels will automatically add a 10 percent gratuity, so make sure you aware of that whe nthe bill is dropped. Ask if you don’t know. Porters and bellhops receive 50 cents per bag while Nevis taxi drivers should be tipped 10 to 15 percent of the fare.

3. You can check on the kids and call home from St. Kitts and Nevis. Most hotels offer USA direct calling service, or they can connect you with an operator from your country.

4. There are taxes added on to things in Nevis, just as anywhere else. There is a $17 airport departure tax, a room tax of seven percent and service charge of ten percent.

5. You can still get in room entertainment, if you feel the need for some tube while on vacation. Most hotels have 22 cable channels, including CNN, ESPN, the Disney Channel, premium movie channels and local stations. That is usually a great to know for those who are addicted.

6. The drinking water is safe, as fresh spring water comes from numerous volcanic springs. You don’t need to worry about sticking to bottled water, like when going on vacation to Mexico.

7. Pack accordingly to season and weather. Linen is my beach favorite. Cover up in town, like at home, but feel free to sport you beach attire on the Nevis Shores. Comfortable, conservative clothing is the norm in Nevis.

8. You will need to adjust your watches nd clocks. The time zone is Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Time.

9. You can convert your money upon arrival if you wish. The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar(EC), which is fixed to the US dollar. Recent exchange rate was $1(US) = $2.70(EC). Be glad to know that US currency, travelers checks and major credit cards are welcome everywhere on Nevis Island.

10. There are many banks in Nevis to utilize if needed. These include Bank of Nova Scotia, Barclays Bank PLC, Royal Bank of Canada, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Ltd., Bank of Nevis Ltd., Nevis Co-Operative Banking Co. Ltd., and St. Kitts & Nevis National Bank.

11. There are medical facilities if an emergency was to occure. St. Kitts and Nevis has doctors on call at hotels and a 24-hour Casualty Department if needed. Pharmaceutical services are widely available as well, but don’t forget your prescriptions.

12. You can shop til you drop everdya except Sundays. On Thursdays, most shops close for the afternoon as well.

Check out Geographia.com for a bit more on these topics! Very helpful stuff!

Hope I could Help!

Nevis Lover ~ Becca Briley

In this day and age, there is one thing to rely on as a solid asset, considering you can pay your bills. That one thing is REAL ESTATE, and now is the time to buy, when the economy is down in the dumps, in more nations than one.

The Democratic Newspaper reported that Ms. Susan Lafond, CEO OF Caribbean Paradise Realty, offered a clean and precise presentation on the topic of Real Estate Opportunities in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Commonwealth of Dominica to persons gathered to learn what they could about the prospects in Real Estate. She explained what all is involved in investment realities, tips for rentals and other openings for private and commercial ventures in the Real Estate field.

Examples of Real Estate Properties were shown from spectra areas. With the exception of a singular property in Halfway Tree, property values were quoted in US Dollars, reeling as high as USD$20 dollars per square foot in the Frigate Bay and Half Moon areas and USD$30 on the south East Peninsula. Whether the available lands in question are US territories can only be speculated.

Lafond says “Real Estate is the key to securing your future.”

Other Speakers that participated in the Open Discussions, included Mr. Faron Lawrence, CEO of St. Kitts and Nevis Homes and Mrs. J. Dawne Heyliger, Manager, Personal Financial Services of Royal Bank Canada who gave details on, “How to Handle with Confidence the Loan Process as well as the Tax and Legal issues in the Acquisition of Real Estate.”

Here is a dreamy Nevis Island property for sale for US$1.75 million! This is a gorgeous Single Family Home in Jones Estate on Nevis West Indies. “With over 3,400 square feet of covered living area, and just under 1,900 square feet of uncovered outside living area, the home offers inspiring design, excellent construction, surrounded by stunningly beautiful gardens, and all the amenities for luxury living.” If it was possible, this would be mine in a heartbeat!

For more reasonable NEVIS REAL ESTATE OPTIONS check out Viviun! Thy also have acres of land for sale on Nevis!

They have the Traditional West Indian Charm At Seaside At Cliffdwellers, going for $650,000 - $1,450,000 USD.

Or the condo - Island Living In Your Own Tropical Botanical Garden, going for $650,000 USD - Negotiable.

Their list is a long one, so check it out if interested.

Nevis Lover ~ Becca Briley

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, will be held tomorrow, Friday July 3, 2009 at the Warner Park Stadium on St. Kitts. Nevis Island dwellers and visitors will be attending this fun filled event as well. The more the merrier!

Already called a “a Spectacular Super Rally,” the event will also marksthe 14th anniversary of the election to office of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.

Jamaica’s reggae superstars, Luciano and Etana, wil surely make this a night to remember, as they will be the main source of delightful island entertainment all night, along with many others!

Kittivisian Life reported that the Labour Party Secretariat on Church Street said:

This will be a truly spectacular event; a celebration to remember. It was 14 years ago that the Labour Party was voted into office – and this huge event will be a celebration of how far we have come… and the opportunities that have resulted in the enhancement of the quality of life for all citizens and residents under Labour.

The stellar line up of international musicians will be playing on the night: the honey-voiced Etana and Reggae sensation Luciano. Additionally, DJ Ronnie Rascal and the Lights Out Band will be warming things up at the start of the evening. There’s also a local choir… fireworks… the launch of a special youth initiative… and a whole lot more.

This is our thank you to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. It’s also an opportunity to hear the Labour Party’s vision for the future of our Federation. We have some exciting new candidates to introduce as well as some big policy ideas that will keep delivering prosperity and opportunity to every Kittitian and Nevisian.

The event is bound to be a huge success with the fantastic line up of entertainment and has been organized to be a total family affair. Labour is the Party of the people, for the people. And this is the people’s Super Rally. Without a doubt, this will be one of the highlights of 2009.

Nevis and St. Kitts love to celebrate, and this a perfect opportunity to bring out the stars of the islands. “Luciano is a shinning star of Reggae music and brings a powerful, spiritual message to the world with melodies delivered by one of the great voices in contemporary music.” He has his own flavor and twist to this genre, as he avoids love songs and rebellion. He focuses more on serving only The Most High. Whatever your faith, Luciano’s spiritual devotion is so fresh and vital that, like Marley, his message reaches everyone.

One of my favorites, Etana alone could entertain and win over the people in St. Kitts and Nevis at this event. However, she will be sharing the stage with Luciano. You can read more about performances and entertainment venues HERE.

Roots

It will surely be a fun-filled night for the sister islands.

Nevis Lover ~ Becca Briley