The 13th annual FLOW Creole in the Park is anticipated to attract patrons from around the globe as the biggest event of the year leading up to the World Creole Music Festival.
The official launching ceremony of the event scheduled for October 24th to 27th was held on Thursday at the Fort Young Hotel.
The Honourable Minister for Tourism and Urban Renewal, Senator Robert Tonge, the CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority and Director Of Tourism, Colin Piper, Dominica Police Force, Operations Officer, ASP Richmond Valentine, Bishop Gabriel Malzaire and Flow General Manager, Jeffrey Baptiste were among those who attended the ceremony.
The Hon Tourism Minister, Senator Robert Tonge, pledged the support and collaboration of his ministry for the staging of the annual event.
“In this event we bring many of these attributes and skills that define our Dominican culture and civilizations. We are much more adept than others to preparing the best creole meals, creating music and other art forms to tell our stories and highlight the achievements of our nation of 38 years. But we also create the conditions for cultural entrepreneurs to sell their goods and services to the many visitors and locals who will attend this four-day event,” Hon Tonge remarked.
Director of Tourism, Colin Piper, applauded FLOW for their dedication to hosting the event for these 13 years.
He considers it admirable that FLOW would invest such an amount of human and financial resources into this event.
“FLOW, you are obligating your company to a financial investment and granted there are marketing and promotional benefits for you, which are understandable, but I choose focus on the overall benefit to the nation that such activities accrue; such as boosting economic activities, extending the window of activities so that visitors have more to see and do.”
For the 13 years of the event, FLOW formerly LIME has partnered with the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division to host Creole in the Park at the Botanic Gardens.
Director of the Forestry, Wildlife and Park Division, Minchinton Burton, revealed that through the donation of the event’s part proceeds from gate receipts, the division has been able to undertake significant upgrade and maintenance of the Botanic Gardens.
Burton appealed to the various patrons of the event to help ensure the upkeep of the Botanic Gardens during the festivities.
He pleaded, “Please assist us in protecting the irrigation infrastructure installed at the Botanic Gardens. Every effort should be made to avoid damage to the sprinklers and valve boxes. Also vendors in particular should avoid driving across the lawns while in the process of transporting supplies, equipment etc. We would also like to appeal to the motoring public to please cooperate with the police and security personnel by avoiding the parking of motor vehicles within the precincts of the Botanic Gardens during the staging of the event.”
General Manager of FLOW, Jeffrey Baptiste, also addressed the ceremony saying the event is the company’s way of reaffirming the preservation, promotion and protection of the Dominican culture.
Day one of the event will feature local groups from the south of the island in the names of the Ultrasound Band, Extasy, Look-Us Band, and Midnight Groovers.
Day two, October 25, will be the calypso spectacular show.
Day three will feature local and regional artistes and bands such as Clint H, Nayee, First Serenade, Triple Kay and Tian Winter.
Day four will be all about bacchanal featuring artistes such as Signal Band, Asa Banton, Ibis Lawrence and Breve. The headline act for day four will be Jamaican dancehall artiste, Dexta Daps.
FLOW Creole in the Park will run from October 24th to 27th and will be open to patrons from 12 noon to 7 pm.