Officials will on May 6th, launch the Antigua & Barbuda Christian Valley, Mango Festival 2010, under the theme “bigger better, more diverse…”
The event, is scheduled for the Ministry Of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment Headquarters at 6 P.M.
The Christian Valley Mango Festival, patron, Governor General Dame Lousie Lake Tack, will be in attendance.
Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment Hilson Baptiste, Chairman of the Mango Festival Committee Jedidiah Maxime, Tourism Officials, Deputy Chair-person of the Mango Festival Committee Caudley George, Minister of State Chanlah Codrington will also be among the officials, addressing the gathering.
The launch includes several programs, activities and exhibitions in which several government and non-governmental are bodies participating.
It entails performances from the Golden School Primary School, who was the winner of the first fruit off activity among schools, held on April 26th at the House of Culture.
Marvin Stevens, of Island Academy International, will also be performing a poem he coined, entitled “Mangoes”.
Listed among the main objectives of the festival are the promotion of the agro-tourism linkages, promote investment opportunities, through sustainable usage of the fruit to create alternative livelihood.
Baptiste, says, mangoes are considered an important cash crop in the region. He predicted, that, with investment in capacity building and technology transfer to empower, locals and the agro-processors, this, venture would create a boom in tourism and agriculture sector.
It was on that grounds, Maxime added, the Mango Festival, will further acquaint people of the types of Mangoes and the quality, since, the fruit has become a symbol of agriculture in the Caribbean. He said, the festival is also meant to enhance tourism and cultural and economic activities.
“I am very happy with the work that I am seeing, so far, with respect to the planning of Mango Festival, the level of commitment, from the members, through, volunteerism, “said Permanent Secretary Clarence Pilgrim.
This year, the Mango Festival Committee, has being utilizing overseas mission, the social media, websites, push email, media, and other avenues to spread the word, internationally.
So far, we are seeing significant, traffic to our very own website www.antiguamangofest.com, sponsored by Ken Shipley of Search Antigua. This avenue, allows, users to interact with the members of the committee, through the website, utilizing the social Medias, face book etc.
“The website, is getting hits from all over the world. As, it gives users an opportunity to interact with other mango fest enthusiast and also allow to share items, views pictures of the activities, fill out forms and comments on the articles,” said Ken Shipley.
To this end, officials from the Mango Festival Committee, has received proposals from Paris, Spain, China, Montserrat, Trinidad, Suriname Grenada and other Caribbean Countries, seeking ways in which they could participate in the festival.
Other upcoming events are May 20th - Pineapple Awareness Day, August 7 - Magic Mango Culinary Competition, August 13 –National Mango Day, and August 14 & 15 –Christian Valley Mango Festival, Bolans Village.
For further information interviews: Contact: Mango Festival Jedidiah Maxime at 764-1259.
