Minister of Sports, Culture and the Creative Industries, Kaschaka Cupid, has concluded a visit to New York as part of a delegation promoting Vincymas 2027 under the theme “Road to 50”.
The visit formed part of efforts to strengthen engagement with Vincentians in the diaspora, promote greater participation in Vincymas 2027 and build international momentum as St. Vincent and the Grenadines prepares to commemorate 50 years since the historic transition of carnival from the traditional pre-Lenten period to the June-July celebrations.
A major component of the visit was a media briefing at the Consulate General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in New York and hosted by Consul General Roland “Patel” Matthews.
The briefing provided an opportunity to share the vision for Vincymas 2027 with the Vincentian diaspora and discuss the importance of overseas Vincentians in promoting and participating in the milestone celebrations.
Joining Cupid at the media briefing was Senior Advisor for Diaspora Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs, Sharon Jones.
Her department used the opportunity to launch a new digital initiative: the official Diaspora Registration QR Code.
The QR code will serve as the department’s primary data-collection tool, helping it to identify and better connect with Vincentians living in the diaspora.
Also participating in the briefing were the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority’s Director of Sales in the United States, Richard MacLeish; Deputy Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC), Colin Graham; Vincy Day USA Representative, Gary “Tunkak” Edwards; and Chairman of the New York Vincymas Launch Committee, Atiba Williams.
The discussions highlighted the importance of Vincymas as SVG’s premier cultural festival and an important contributor to tourism, the creative industries, entrepreneurship and wider economic activity.
Other members of the delegation included CEO of the CDC, Rodney Small; Chairperson of the National Lotteries Authority Board, Luann Haddaway; and National Lotteries Authority Board Member, Delisia DeFreitas.
The delegation also attended the Vincy Day USA Picnic at Heckscher State Park in Long Island, the largest annual gathering of Vincentians outside of SVG.
The event provided an important platform to connect directly with thousands of Vincentians and friends of SVG and to promote the vision for Vincymas 2027.
The CDC is seeking to use the “Road to 50” campaign to deepen engagement with the Vincentian diaspora and encourage Vincentians overseas to become ambassadors for the festival, return home for the celebrations and introduce new audiences to SVG.
The campaign will also seek to showcase the country’s music, mas, calypso, steel pan, creative talent, heritage and hospitality while strengthening the contribution of Vincymas to national development.
“The New York mission was considered a success, with the delegation able to engage directly with members of the diaspora, tourism and cultural stakeholders and the organisers of the Vincy Day USA Picnic while delivering a unified message about the significance of the upcoming milestone,” a press release said.
“The visit represents the beginning of a wider effort to build momentum towards what is expected to be a significant celebration of Vincentian culture and creativity in 2027.”