tion with plans for global circulation
upon completion.
“The Caribbean people need
to know the actual artistes who
started it. We are going down
memory lane,” declared an elated
Marcia Deans, the main producer
behind the documentary
titled “For the Love of Reggae.”
“We are going to interview
them. we are going to go where
the music was where they started
the music.”
60s icons such as Lester
Sterling, OD, the last surviving
Caribbean L 48 ife, DECEMBER 6-12, 2019
member of the group,
Skatalittes, Charlie Organaire,
Sparrow Martin, Ken Booth
and Leroy Siblings are among
artistes who have agreed to be
featured.
Other legendary artistes
appearing in the film include
Keeling Beckford, Earl Morgan
the founding member of
the Heptones, Bongo Herman,
Stranger Cole of the Mighty Diamonds
and Sultan Ali, son of
Prince Buster, one of the most
important figures in the history
of Ska and Rocksteady.
out the four-hour-plus-long
Tea Party, including “What’s
in Your Purse;” “Song;” “Pillow
Fitting Case;” “Hat;” and
“What’s Under Your Chair.”
Vincentian Jackie John won
the “What’s in Your Purse” contest
after producing 10 items in
her purse: Five pennies, pack
of gum, store receipt, toothbrush,
floss, safety pin, hand
sanitizer, Advil, nail clip and
Zip lock bag.
Jamaican Venice Golding,
who worships at Greater
Blessing Assembly in Flatbush,
Brooklyn, won the “Song Competition.”
The Portmore, St. Catherine
native composed and sang
to the tune of the Christmas
Carol, “Silver Bells.”
Barbadian Joshua Green was
declared the winner of the “Pillow
Fitting Case” Competition,
edging out Puerto Rican Hector
Perez, who is married to a
Vincentian.
In the “Biggest Hat” Competition,
Jamaican Careen Blackwood,
a congregant at Miracle
Temple Ministries, was victorious;
while another congregant
and Jamaican, Pamela Tucker,
won the “Small Hat” Competition.
Hemi Perry, an African
American, residing in Brooklyn,
was adjudged first runnerup
in the “Small Hat” Competition.
After revealing “What’s
Under Your Chair,” Elorriane
Richards, who hails from Manchester,
Jamaica sang “Amazing
Grace.”
Vincentian Edwin McKenzie,
Perez’s father-in law, who
recently moved from Florida
to reside with his daughter in
Brooklyn, received rave reviews
with an impromptu version of
“This is My Story.”
The Tea Party also featured,
among others, models and renditions
by the UVCGB Band.
The band, with Perry Allen
as main vocalist, played “Bless
the Lord My Soul” and “You’re
a Good, Good Father,” among
others.
In addition, UVCGB presented
bouquets of flowers, as
tokens of appreciation, to Deidre
Ballantyne and Ingrid Bess,
for their voluntary service.
“Deidre and Ingrid have
been good to us over the years,”
UVCGB president Dr. Roxie
Irish-Morris, a youth minister
at the Miracle Temple Ministries,
told patrons afterwards.
Earlier, she said all proceeds
go towards the group’s medical
Jamaican Careen Blackwood wins the “Biggest Hat Competition.”
Photo by Nelson A. King
missions to St. Vincent and the
Grenadines.
Besides the annual Tea
Party, Dr. Irish-Morris, a
former national netball star
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
said UVCGB also raises
funds for its missions by hosting
an annual Cultural Concert.
It’s first concert was in
2003.
“Since we started, we already
spent over US$50,000.00 in
medical supplies,” she said
after floor manager, Judith
“Baffy” Cuffy-Murray, welcomed
patrons.
Dr. Irish-Morris said that,
by 2018, all 40 clinics in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines
received medical supplies from
the group.
“What a surprise, we have
people who need clothing (as
well), she said. “Our motto is,
‘We’re blessed to be a blessing.’”
Randolph Liverpool,
UVCGB’s song writer and choreographer,
who was on the
group’s last two missions to St.
Vincent and the Grenadines,
said he was “really impressed”
with the trips.
“We did not have enough
to give to the people,” he said.
“Your presence helps us to
achieve our goals.”
Howie Prince, St. Vincent
and the Grenadines consul
general to the United States,
who participated in the “Song
Competition,” lauded UVCGB
for its humanitarian missions.
“What you do is worth
doing,” Prince, who is also an
actor and musician, among
other things, told patrons.
“We commend very highly
the work of the United Vincie
Cultural Group of Brooklyn,
because of what they’re doing,”
he added. “There’s always room
to help others.”
Continued from Page 47
Some of the ska and rock steady artistes to appear in the
fi lm. From left, Heptones member, Bongo Herman, Sparrow
Martin and the two members of the Group Mighty Diamond.
Marcia Deans
Continued from Page 47
Isidrao Sabio’s art exhibition
ating beautiful and colorful
Afrocentric paintings and
cards that positively portrait
the life of Garifunas and Afrodescendants
worldwide,” it
said. “When she couldn’t find
afro-themed artwork for her
new home, she started painting
on canvas. Since then, she
has sold many pieces nationally
and internationally.”
The Coalition said Sabio
has used her art to advance
causes of particular interest
to her, including the Garifuna
experience and their plight, as
well as to advocate and raise
awareness about the Garifuna
People.
“She depicts the Garifuna/
Afrocentric experience featuring,
women, children men and
life experiences,” it said.
Sabio also depicts great
personalities from Garifuna
history, such as Francisco
Morazan’s Garifuna Lt. Juan
Francisco Bulnez, otherwise
known as Walumugu from
the Garifuna village of San
Pedro Tocamacho, the Coalition
said.
In 2018, the Garifuna Coalition
USA, Inc. and El Fogon
Center for the Arts presented
Sabio’s “Contemporary Garifuna
Art Exhibit.”
The historic event was the
first by a Garifuna female visual
artist in New York City. It
included 18 16” x 20” and 18”
x 24” Acrylic on canvas paintings.
The Coalition said visual
arts and craft are “a primary
means of transmitting Garifuna
culture and communicating
identity, place and belonging.”
“Knowledge, history and
other cultural information
have been orally transmitted
through many generations,”
it said.
Continued from Page 47
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Garifuna artist Isidra Sabio. Garifuna Coalition U.S.A. Inc
‘For the Love of Reggae’