....................AND IN THE BEGIINNING THEY CREATED A SHOW
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| TEN YEARS OF MISS CARIBBEAN TALENTED TEEN PAGEANT |
The Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant is an illustrious Event, which celebrates the hosting of its 26th show December 2005. This is an EXTRAORDINARY milestone by any standards and the organizers deserve a hearty praise for creating and maintaining a standard that has kept thousands coming through the gates of Carnival City year after year.
Exactly how this pageant came about
The idea was born out of a simple conversation amongst three teenagers in 1979, which aimed to establish a premier regional competition on St. Kitts. This, however, was the first stage in the show's creation. The crucial juncture was its execution. It is one thing to have an idea, but another to implement that idea and sustain it. It is at this point therefore that mention must be made of the organizations that have braved the turbulent entrepreneurial waters of creating a new venture that has given the Caribbean (English, Spanish and French speaking) a platform for its young ladies to craft their personal development and foster regional integration. The Haynes Smith Youth Club (HSYC) and the Harmonites took on the challenge and lead the organization of the first show in December 1980 under the chairmanship of James `Barman' Hanley. By 1983 however the show became the full responsibility of the Haynes Smith Youth Club, up until the present.
As with all worthwhile ventures the organizing feat was not easy. The novelty of the show precluded some parents and Carnival Committees in the various islands from sending their representatives. Further, the placement of the show, in December, a time when families would come together, worked against the organizers. Additionally, raising finance and finding sponsorships was a challenge. Nevertheless the organizing committee persevered and put on the first show with seven representatives from Dominica, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola, Anguilla, Antigua, Nevis and host country St. Kitts. The winner that year was the then Miss Patricia Skerritt of St. Kitts.
Financially the show wasn't a success making an EC$10,000 loss; but one cannot measure overall success in dollar amounts alone and by this standard the fact that the show has stood the test of time, is proof that the very first show was successful enough to warrant its continuation into the succeeding years. (Unoma Allen 1/11/04)
