The Department of Culture is encouraging residents to submit entries for the CARICOM Song Competition before the end of June, 2013. According to Director of Culture, Mrs Luce Hodge-Smith, the competition has been launched to engender full participation of CARICOM nationals in composing and selecting a song which would promote regional unity and values and inspire Community identity and pride. Photo: VINO/File

A decision was made by CARICOM Heads of Government at the 32ND Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2011 in St. Kitts and Nevis, to launch a CARICOM Song Competition. Photo: caribbeantrakker.com

The Department of Culture is encouraging residents to submit entries for the CARICOM Song Competition before the end of June, 2013.

Director of Culture Mrs Luce Hodge-Smith said a decision was made by CARICOM Heads of Government at the 32ND Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2011 in St. Kitts and Nevis, to launch a CARICOM Song Competition.

“The Competition has been launched to engender full participation of CARICOM nationals in composing and selecting a song which would promote regional unity and values and inspire Community identity and pride,” Mrs Hodge-Smith said.

The Director told this news site that quite a number of persons have uplifted forms expressing their interest in the competition but to date no entries have been made. She said she is confident that there will be a good number of persons that will enter but reiterated the call to further motivate entries.

"We intent to make contact with some of the song writers and others we know may be interested but we anticipate a great response to this competition," she added.

She further explained that the objective of the competition is to develop an original song to be used at ceremonial and official functions, including meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government and international events at which the region is jointly represented.

The first round of judging at the national level will be conducted in the Virgin Islands and thereafter the top six entries will be sent to the CARICOM Secretariat before June 28, 2013.

Persons interested in submitting entries for the CARICOM Song Competition are asked to follow the guidelines as prescribed by the committee.  The lyrics and music of the CARICOM Song should:

1. Reflect a strong Caribbean Cultural identity; 
2. Meet technical specifications; have versatility and lend itself to be played by various instruments which may include stringed, steel pan, keyboard, percussion or woodwind and be sung;
3. Have a strong Caribbean cultural flavour and rhythm; and 
4. Inspire a sense of regional pride and unity.

Adding to the guidelines, Mrs Hodge-Smith said the song should have the characteristics of an anthem; incorporate a blessing or a prayer that invokes a blessing; have a clarion call to build community or Caribbean unity; be one that inspires unity and regional pride and be one that evokes and or celebrates the history, traditions and struggles of the Caribbean people.

Additionally, the music must be of Caribbean rhythm and flavor and one that is memorable with popular and emotional appeal.

Each entry must include a completed entry form with original signature, CD containing one song only and not exceeding four (4) minutes in duration, and typed lyrics and music sheet.

The winner of the CARICOM Song Competition will receive a cash award of $10,000; first runner up $5,000 and second runner up $2,500. Other participants in the top 10 will be publicly acknowledged.

The 20-member grouping, which was established on July 4, 1973 by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, was so constituted on the principle of regional integration for national and regional development. Its purpose is to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared through the promotion of economic integration, cooperation in areas of human and social development and coordination of foreign policy.