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The eighteenth Anguilla, Nevis and St. Kitts Associations Reunion (ANSAR) is being held in St. Kitts and Nevis from 22 to 24 June 2018. It is being hosted by the St. Kitts-Nevis Returning Nationals Association, a local charitable non-political organization, under the theme “Renewing and Strengthening our Relations, Celebrating our Achievements and Uniting our People ‘

ANSAR is an occasion when nationals from these three islands with their families and friends at home and abroad, including from North America, Europe and the Caribbean, come together in one location to exchange ideas, educate and inform each other in a harmonious atmosphere.

The idea of ANSAR was conceived in 1984 by the St. Kitts and Nevis Cultural Association of Montreal, Canada when the first reunion was held to bring people of the three islands closer together in the Diaspora: “to provide opportunity for Nationals of Anguilla, Nevis and St. Kitts to renew acquaintances, to worship together, to edify each other and to enjoy our own traditions”, as says its Constitution. This main thrust of the spirit of ANSAR continues.

ANSAR has been held in several cities around the world since 1984, including in

Birmingham and Leeds (UK), Toronto and Montreal (Canada), New York and Miami (USA) and has become a biennial event. In 2008, it was held in St. Kitts. Ten years later, it is being held again in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The last ANSAR event was held in 2016 in Montreal, Canada hosted by the St. Kitts and Nevis Cultural Association of Montreal and was attended by over 500 nationals, their families and friends. It was graced by the presence of the Mayor of Montreal and also by our own Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and the then Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Vance Amory. It was a grand occasion.

The global ANSAR Secretariat which provides oversight to all ANSAR reunions wherever held is currently headed by Mr. Constantine Greenaway of St. Kitts. The ANSAR 2018 local organizing committee is chaired by Mr. Calvin James of the host organization the St. KittsNevis Returning Nationals Association of which the President is Mr. Charles Benjamin.

ANSAR 2018 promises again to be a grand and memorable occasion with several hundred overseas participants expected to attend. The main events are to be held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Royal St. Kitts Hotel, both at Frigate Bay, as well as at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC) where the Opening session is expected to be held.

Events will include a Meet and Greet, a formal Opening Session, a Grand Gala evening, an Interdenominational Worship Service and a Grand Finale Cultural Show and will feature several distinguished keynote speakers. Other activities are envisaged, including a Market Place and afterANSAR events. A commemorative magazine is being prepared for the occasion with support from local businesses. Further details on ANSAR 2018 are available on the ANSAR website at: http://ANSARinc.org Full details of the three-day programme will be unveiled later.

ANSAR is expected to benefit from being nestled between a proposed government-sponsored Diaspora conference and the 2018 Kitts Music Festival. All are welcome.

Willa Franks Liburd

Secretary, ANSAR Secretariat