Great Anticipation for St. Mary CaSfest Exposition

Community groups and grassroots micro-entrepreneurs in and around St. Mary are signing up in large numbers to participate in this year’s staging of the Social Development Commission’s Creative Arts and Skills Festival (CASfest) in the parish.

The event, which is scheduled for the Claude Stewart Park in Port Maria on Friday, March 10, is being staged for the third time as part of the Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), which facilitates entrepreneurship, economic growth and job creation at the community level.

The SDC’s Parish Manager, Travis Graham, told JIS News that heightened anticipation of the event is resonating among residents, noting that interest in the festival has grown tremendously over the years.

He said several groups and individuals who participated in the previous stagings have been gearing up to showcase their skills and products.

“There will be some specific communities raring to showcase their products. They include Jeffery Town, with their sweet potato pudding mix; Mile Gully, with their beeswax hair oil; Enfield, with their ginger beer products; Windsor Castle, with their bamboo jewellery, Three Hills, with their wines and nutraceuticals; and Castleton, with their original chocolate tea and bread,” he informed.

Mr. Graham advises new participants to come prepared to execute the ‘Three-S’ concept.

“Come and ‘showcase’ your product, come and ‘sell’ your product and come and provide ‘samples’ of your product,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Graham said persons desirous of learning how to transform their skill or talent into a viable business endeavour should also attend and register at CASfest.

“You can start a business at the festival, get to do business development ideas, interface with entities to get ideas on building a business, register for training and liaise with people who have made it,” he added.