Plans on stream for Vincy Day USA
By Nelson A. King
As thousands of Vincentians
from all walks of life gear up to
attend the Eighth Annual Vincy
Day USA, at Heckscher State
Park in East Islip, Long Is., the
new chairman of the Brooklynbased
group says everything on
stream for the grand extravaganza
on Aug. 17.
“Preparations for Vincy Day
are progressing well, as we
speak,” said Raymond O. “Otis”
Lewis in an exclusive Caribbean
Life interview.
“We’ve been having this
event for the past seven years,
and we have a thorough check
list that we reference to ensure
that we have things under control
and in order,” he added.
Leading up to Vincy Day
USA this year, Lewis said the
committee hosted three major
events to offset the cost of holding
the massive picnic: A Gospel
Extravaganza on March 31;
Spring Bingo (Bingo Night) on
May 3; and the Annual Food
Sale on July 27.
All events were held on
the grounds of the Friends of
Crown Heights Educational
Centers at 671 Prospect Pl.
and 1435 Prospect Pl., both in
Brooklyn.
“The reception at our events
is normally pretty good,” Lewis
said. “The bingo by far had our
biggest turnout, as the hall was
pretty much at capacity.
“Our Gospel Extravaganza
was favorably attended as well,”
he added. “But given that it was
a Sunday afternoon and around
Easter, it didn’t have the full
complement as we would have
liked. However, for the ones
who did come out, they had a
wonderful time and expressed a
desire for us to do it again.
“Our food sale wasn’t at its
normal capacity, but we did
have a fair amount of patrons
who thoroughly enjoyed what
we had on the menu,” he continued.
Lewis said this year’s Vincy
Day USA will feature a cross
section of talented Vincentian
artistes, representing different
genres, “be it culture, calypso,
gospel, etc., etc.”
“As has been the norm, we
don’t declare who will be performing
at Vincy Day primarily
to temper expectations and to
avoid disappointment to all in
attendance,” he said.
On the big stage last year,
Caribbean L 32 ife, Aug. 9-15, 2019 Q
pre-eminent Vincentian gospel
artiste Bridget Blucher, 2018
Ragga Soca and Road March
King Fimba, and soca star
Skinny Fabulous were among
a number of artistes who convulsed
the party crowd.
“We look to put on a great
family fun day, buoyed by an
entertainment segment highlighting
various aspects of Vincentian
culture and talent, as
well activities for children of
various ages and, most important,
the unity and interaction
of over 10,000 Vincentians
from near and far having a
good time,” said Lewis about
this year’s expectations.
Food and drinks galore are
also expected to be superflous,
as picnic-goers, over the years,
have shared and feasted on
mouth-watering Vincentian
dishes — such as breadfruit
and saltfish, blackfish, callaloo
soup, pelau, souse and
roasted corn — and washed
them down with local drinks
— mauby, ginger and sorrel
beers, and Ju-C.
In addition, picnic-goers,
among other things, will renew
acquaintances, “ole talk” and
party before the huge stage on
the eastern end of the mammoth
grounds.
“I just want to say that Vincy
Day is a day that thousands of
Vincentians look forward to,
because we get an opportunity
to meet up with friends and
family that we may not have
seen in how many years,” Lewis
said.
“My feelings for Vincy Day
have always been of love and
togetherness,” he added. “I’ve
attended every Vincy Day, and,
as the new chairman, it’s even
more important because I want
to ensure that we put together
an event that is par excellence
and the envy of all other Caribbean
islands.
Playing domino: natives from South Rivers, Kirton, Rose Hall
and Park Hill. Photo by Nelson A. King