by Linda Straker
- Cabinet committee to honour Fantastic Friday 5
- Culture as an avenue for employment and personal development
- Government will assist those who decide to use culture for development and growth
Trade and Industry Minister, Oliver Joseph disclosed that Cabinet has given its approval for a committee that will look into honouring the Hollice “Mr Killer” Mapp and the 4 other Grenadian artistes who participated in the 2019 International Power Soca Monarch and Groovy competition held in Trinidad last week Friday.
This is the first time that Grenada has had 5 entertainers participate in the competition which is a high point event for Trinidad and Tobago carnival celebrations. Mapp won the competition with his performance of “Run Wid It” while Hector “Mr Legz” Thomas place third and in the Groovy competition Jevaughn “Vaughn” John placed third.
The other competing artistes were Mandella Linkz McDonald who competed in the Groovy, and the soca duo of Dingaan Henry and Nyelon Williams who are known as Lil Natty and Thunda who competed in the Power Soca.
“They all did us very proud and the government has decided that we will have to plan some sort of ceremonial activity to honour all of them,” Joseph told the media during the weekly Tuesday post-cabinet briefing.
“When we can compete at the international level and come out on top, as we say get the gold…In the bars they are referring to it as one gold and two bronze, that is extremely good. Soca is on a high,” he said, confirming that the first activity will be a welcome reception at the airport when they return on Saturday.
Using the opportunity to call on young people to see culture as an avenue for employment and personal development, Joseph said government will do all in its power to assist those who decide to use the route for development and growth.
“We want to encourage young people to get involved in culture and to see that as an opportunity for them to reach higher heights, like Mr Killer himself said, that was his dream and he achieved his dream, so we want to encourage young people to follow their dream,” he said.
The creative industry is one of 6 targeted areas in Grenada’s export strategy for the period 2017-2021. The aim is to boost Grenada’s exports in targeted sectors during the 5-year period.
