WHAT'S ON

The Launch of the 4th Annual Homes, Families and Gardens Festival

Organisers of the fourth annual Homes, Families and Gardens Festival competition are anticipating a greater level of participation this year.

Registration is now open for the competition following a launch this morning (Thursday 5th May 2011) at the Ministry of Social Transformation. The event is an initiative of the   Community Development Division within the Ministry of Health, Social Transformation and Consumer Affairs.

There are three aspects of the festival – a garden competition, a research and poetry competition and a community festival.

Participants can register to showcase their flower or vegetable gardens or landscape. The research should be based on the history of the community in which the participant resides or notable persons while the poem should focus on the theme “Think beautification for the nation’s health and wealth”. This year, the categories for the research and poem aspect of the competition are 7-12 age group, 13-18 and 19 years and over.

While declaring the competition open, Community Development Field Officer Valdrina Jackson encourages members of the public to participate in order to maintain a beautiful Antigua and Barbuda.

According to a representative from last year’s judges committee Carol Faye George, every year there are bigger, better and more dynamic gardens.

Assistant Director of Education Doristeen Etinoff, endorses the competition on behalf of the Ministry of Education, noting that it can help relieve students stress, be a spin-off for beautification of their homes and promote greater family interaction. 

A ceremony will be held in December to recognize the winners.