Virgin Parish Cultural Organisation (VPCO) continues to build the momentum to Spicemas 2017. Following a successful Carnival Launch on Sunday, 4 June 2017, the organisation held activities for the soca artistes in the parish at the Marlmount Big Yard as a build up to its Soca Monarch on 6 August 2017.
On Wednesday, 5 July, VPCO held its Soca Preliminary with 27 artistes, of which 20 advanced to the semi-finals, carded for 19 July at 7 pm at Marlmount Big Yard. From these 20 artistes, 15 will advance to the Soca Finals on 6 August, at the same venue. St David can boast of having the most soca artistes on the island, and many have entered the national preliminaries of Spicemas, to book a place on the big stage come 11 August 2017.
Eleven of the 32 artistes advancing to the semi-finals are from St David; many of whom are first timers to the competition. VPCO recognises the contribution these artistes are making to the art form, and wish them all the best into the next round of competition.
This year will mark the 11th anniversary of the best J’ouvert on the island, St David’s J’ouvert. The J’ouvert which started in 2006 by Red Railing Development Organisation under the directorship of Terry Cox, Nigel Pierre, Brenda Hankey, Marcel Celestine, and Garvin Bubb, has grown to be one of the biggest events on the carnival calendar of St David. When it started back in 2006, there was one DJ, and the route was from Crochu Junction to St David’s Police Station. Modifications have been made to this route over the years, with La Tante Junction being the hub of J’ouvert activities. As a build-up to and promotion for St David’s Soca Monarch and J’ouvert, VPCO will be holding an island wide motorcade on 29 July from 10 am.
VPCO held a post mortem of last year’s J’ouvert and will be addressing the issues to make the J’ouvert better organised this year. The route will be from Lambert’s Bridge to Bellevue with a start time of 4 am to finish at 10 am. This year, we are encouraging individuals and bands to sign up for Old Mas and J’ouvert competition which will be judged and prizes awarded. Registration forms can be filled out at the Law Office of Mrs Mitchell in St David, downstairs of Dr George Mitchell’s Office. Vendors, DJ and Mas Band leaders wishing to participate in St David’s J’ouvert are invited to a meeting at the Marlmount Big Yard on Thursday 13 July 2017 at 6 pm.
Kelvin Jacob, Chairman (Ag.) Telephone:415 0202.
