The Best Village Competition is certainly on this year as part of the 41st Independence Anniversary Celebrations. For 2015, the competition will be spread over a three – month period, with February designated to judge the environment and March and April allotted for judging food and culture. In a recent interview with the GIS, National Celebrations Committee member (NCC), Susan Jones Benjamin said the Best Village team is currently engaged in intensive planning to ensure the success of the event. The NCC member said a number of new communities have been showing interest in the competition and since the evaluation of the environment aspect will be conducted from February 9, now is the best time for participating communities to begin putting structures in place. “There is no time like now to begin planting flowers now that the rains are falling,” Mrs. Benjamin said. The highlight of the competition will be the cultural component which will be judged in the month of April which is Heritage Month and also the month of the England vs. West Indies Cricket Match. Mrs. Benjamin says this will be an excellent opportunity for Grenadians to celebrate and showcase their culture to the cricketers and other visitors to the island. “The cricketers coming in will get the flavour of our food, culture and the community spirit as we come together to cook our pots and showcase our talent,” she said. Mrs. Benjamin said three months were dedicated to the competition to the benefit of participants to get more persons involved and allow more time for communities to consolidate what dishes they will cook and what talents they will display. The Best Village team is inviting schools, churches, families and communities to come together and engage in projects to enhance their villages. The judging for the environment, food and culture on the Sister Isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique will take place on March 7 and 8, 2015. Source: gov.gd