The participants last year displaying their flags. Photo: VINO/File

Last year's costume winners St Vincent. Photo: VINO/File

Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church John I. Cline. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking to this news site today May 1, 2015, Bishop at the New Life Baptist Church John I. Cline said the event started ten years ago and at that time featured just Caribbean nations. “It was recognising that as a church and a community we are a melting pot…we have people from all over the Caribbean and the world,” he said.

“It first started as Caribbean night where we were first doing it as a Caribbean event with people from around the Caribbean. Now there is the United States, the Philippines and other countries, such as the Dominican Republic which is taking part for the first time,” he said.

“We have a prize for the best national dress, the best food…then we have some tasting contests…it will be a time of food, fun and festive spirit,” he said.

He said that there will be a competitive spirit to it as there will be judging of the national dresses and costumes, dances, performances etc.

Speaking to this news site, Coordinator of the event Lydia S. George confirmed that some 13 countries will be participating this year. She said that all of the countries will do a march past with their national flags and in their national dress.

“During the course of the afternoon every country has a performance, something to depict their national culture,” he said. She said too that their tents too will also depict the national colours.

Further, she said that this year every country represented has to make a display out of sweet potato.