Press conference about photography contest

The Daily Herald writes that Caribbean Netherlands “Dare to Share” photography contest for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba was announced at a press conference by Caribbean Netherlands Government Service (RCN) on Wednesday. Under the title “This is the place,” the contest seeks to highlight the unique character of each island within the region through the eyes of ordinary residents with extraordinary perspectives. Residents are encouraged to express through this visual medium their experience and understanding of the local beauty, of what is important and meaningful about the place where they live.

Caribbean Netherlands Government Service (RCN) senior communications advisors Alida Francis and Lucia Beck facilitated the event, together with design project manager Tim Martina and Saba Tourism Office Director Glenn Holm. Beck presented the launching of the CN Expo contest as an exercise in increasing awareness among the BES islands in conjunction with the 200-year celebrations of The Kingdom of The Netherlands. Residents living on one of the three islands are encouraged to submit a single digital photo per participant, a photo that is to be submitted via a Facebook account.

Beck said the idea came from the realization that most inhabitants in the islands have and use this social medium to communicate and network. Each person can participate with one photo, to be submitted before October 15. Twenty-nine pictures will then be selected, with each island having the same number of winning photos. These pictures will be exhibited simultaneously on the three islands on November 16.

Martina, the social media project coordinator, explained that submissions can be made of photos from mobile devices, semiprofessional or professional cameras. There will be a total of nine prizes, with submissions considered for the following categories: youth under 12; adolescents younger than 21 and adults above 21 years. There is a category for consideration under “the most popular” or “the best of the best.” These are to be selected by votes submitted on-line. Photo submission instructions posters have been distributed throughout the island. The official page is hosted on Facebook.com/the.CN.expo.

Those not familiar with Facebook are encouraged to visit the local tourism office in Windwardside for assistance in uploading and submitting their favourite photo. Martina noted that while many photos can be posted, the favourite one must be submitted for the competition together with an on-line, filled-in form. He will ensure that each

submission comes from an island resident, that a description is provided for each photo and that multiple submissions are not made by the same individual. Holm said the Tourism Department is excited to participate in the initiative and encouraged Saba residents to participate and be part of the promotion of the island within the kingdom. He noted that the exhibit will travel to the European Netherlands after being displayed in the Caribbean Netherlands for a month. Beck added that he exhibit will feature in Amsterdam as well as in the halls of various ministries. Caribbean Dutch residents in the European part of the country are expected to play an active role in the promotion of awareness about the islands, as “they are the business cards of the islands” said Beck. On Tuesday the organizers of the competition visited Aaron Soares at the Child Focus Foundation to involve their “Kids Life Imagery” youth photography group in the contest. On Wednesday, they visited the schools in Saba and presented the initiative to the youth. The team visited the government building, handing a specially issued polo-shirt with the CN Expo logo to Lt. Governor Jonathan Johnson.