A Fancy Affair

‘Reclaiming our past; Advancing towards the future’ was the theme for this year’s National Heroes Day (NHD)  cultural rally held in Fancy, an activity patronized by several hundreds of Vincentians, who came primarily to savor the traditional dishes and cultural performances organized by the Fancy Farmers’ Cooperative.


This year, NHD activities in Fancy were held on Monday, March 15, and it was literally   ‘all roads leading to Fancy’.  There were so many vehicles in Fancy that the roadside for over one mile, from ‘Soldier Hill’ to ‘over the river’ in Fancy, was lined with vehicles.  There was perhaps an equal number or more parked in  the playing field and on side roads and anywhere there was an open space.  That was the extent of the patronage of an event which paid special homage to Paramount Chief  and first National Hero, Joseph Chatoyer.

Monument coming

The cultural event started  a little late due to the  rain which had patrons scampering for shelter on at least four occasions during the  rally.  The Principal of the Fancy Gov’t School delivered the opening prayer.   Another well- known teacher Felicia Alexander welcomed the visitors and announced the theme for this year’s rally, while Maxwell “Tajo” Francis,  MC for the  rally, kept the crowd entertained and the show flowing.

The Hon. MP for North Windward, Montgomery Daniel in his address noted that the government was in the process of making arrangements to erect a monument of Joseph Chatoyer in the Rabacca National Park.

Also speaking during the short opening ceremony was the CEO of the Social Investment Fund (SIF)  Bentley Browne who announced the successful completion of a water storage tank which was built with technical assistance from the CWSA.

Entertainment galore

The rally was a mix of dub poetry, rap, choral speaking and songs, all with patriotic messages, while on the lighter side of things.  Students from the Langley Park Primary School, Fancy Government School and  Sandy Bay Secondary School put on an awesome performance, including creative dance and salsa dancing, to the delight of the appreciative audience.

Bringing  down the curtains amd providing a party atmosphere to the rally was a battery of local artistes, including ‘Fireman Hooper’, ‘Scorpion’, ‘Alla G’, and ‘Little J’, and the musical band ‘Coral’ from Musitque, which is now a fixture on the NHD activities in Fancy.

Finger licking

Those patrons who came to savor the local culinary delights, including doucana, farine bam bam, madongo bakes and fried fish, callaloo soup with crayfish and callaloo soup with cattle skin, fish broth, goat water and curried goat, were not disappointed.  If there was any disappointment, it was with the fact that some complained of not getting enough of the tasty delights to take home.  All the culinary delights were prepared by village chefs and ‘cheffetes’.

This is the 6th year that NHD activities have been staged in Fancy by the Fancy Unity Farmers’ Cooperative (FUFC).  The FUFC is already planning for another cultural extravaganza for the Easter weekend, to give visitors the chance to savor their culinary delights, as well as expose the abundance of cultural talent evident among the youth from the North Windward district.

source of article and photo:
by Don De Riggs
The Vincentian
26/03/2010
www.thevincentian.com