Adrian Frater, News Editor
Maureen Reid (centre) smiles gleefully after copping the St. James Festival Queen title on Saturday night. At left is Kerry-Gay Blackwood, the first runner-up, and at right is Nicketia Myrie, who placed third. - ADRIAN FRATER PHOTO
(Western Bureau):
TWENTY FIVE-YEAR-OLD Herbert Morrison High School teacher Maureen Reid emerged the toast of Saturday night's Miss St. James Festival Queen contest when she brushed aside the challenge of the other five contestants to cop the coveted title. "It feels very good because this is the first contest I have ever entered," said the beaming Ms. Reid, who was the oldest of the six contestants. "I am now going to work extremely hard to strengthen the areas in which I think I am weak because I intend to represent the parish well in the national finals."
PRIZE PACKAGE
Ms. Reid, who won the sectional prize for the 'Best Performance', during the talent segment, collected a hefty prize package, which included the City Sports Trophy, $15,000 in cash, a microwave oven, a weekend for two at the Point Village Hotel and an associate degree programme worth $150,000, courtesy of Western Hospitality Institute.
Nineteen-year-old Kerry-Gay Blackwood, who copped the sectional prize for the, 'Most Culturally Aware' contestant, took the first runner-up slot while Nicketia Myrie, who was the crowd favourite until she faltered miserably in the question and answer segment, finished in third place. She won the sectional prize for 'Best Poise.'
Starting more than a hour late, the event quickly gathered steam with an elegant dance routine by the six contestants, who hit centre-stage clad in an assortment of African wears and doing a lively jig to a drum dominated instrumental piece.
IMPRESSIVE DANCING
The entertainment became richer as the night progressed as dance groups such as the Success Primary School dancers, who came nattily attired in exquisite white outfits laced with red, green and gold, and their Howard Cooke Primary School counterparts, dressed in dazzling red and black oriental outfits, drew rich applause from the audience.
After impressing the audience in the introduction and talent segment, the contestants spoiled an otherwise good evening in the question and answer segments. Looks of disbelief creased many faces in the audience as the contestants made a mockery of simple general knowledge questions.
"This is atrocious man ... these girls are not ready," said an obviously disgruntled female patron. "The teacher (Ms. Reid) is a little bit on the plump side but she is the only one who made any sense."
Poor lighting and sound also plagued the event at various stages and had it not been for the creativity of MC Jackie Norman, who was called upon to find creative ways to cover-up for some of the long breaks, the production would have suffered more.
At one point, Ms. Norman invited members of the audience to perform impromptu pieces during one major break. At that stage, a little girl all but stole the show, giving an exceptional dance routine to the Elephant Man's song, Willy Bounce.
