Well, what a show!!! If you had told me the results 12 months ago, I would have never believed you. The show was amazing. This year’s Honey Show migrated from the old colonel streets of downtown Castries to the picturesque setting of the IGY Marina Rodney Bay. Our new event partners were Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC 2022) and IGY Marina, with the event still maintaining its long-lasting partnership with GEF SGP UNDP, Ministry of Agriculture and the Iyanola Apiculture Collective (IAC).
This year there was a 100% increase in the number of entries compared to 2021 and a similar increase in the number of participants, 52 exhibitors showcasing 157 exhibits. There was a perfect symmetry in gender balance with 26 male and 26 female participants. This increase clearly shows the work that GEF SGP UNDP and the IAC is doing on the ground is beginning to pay dividends.
This year’s event, although condensed to a one day, was full of surprises with a team of beekeepers from the Southern town of Soufriere almost making a clean sweep of all the Honey and Wax categories. But let’s start at the beginning.
Judging
The day started very early (5:30am) with Judges Sue Carter and Bill Fisher, Show Secretary Samantha Justin, Assistant Secretary Dalia Carobere and Steward David Small commencing the judging process at Bay Gardens Marine Haven. Show Secretaries and visiting Steward from Barbados David Small, spent the previous day accepting a steady stream of entries, to be judged very early on the Saturday morning before being placed on display at the main event at the Marina.
What became very clear early on that morning was the quality of the entries had vastly improved from last year, and the number of top-quality entries across the different categories were phenomenal. The Chief Judge, Sue Carter stated, “I am happy that participants considered the advice we provided to them last year and the honey show competition entries showed a significant improvement on last year’s performance.”
Once judging was completed all entries were meticulously transported a few hundred meters across the street to the Marina by our volunteer team (Sioban Beaubrun, Willie Alexander, Mathius Carobere) under the supervision of Steward David Small.
It became very clear this year’s Honey Show was going to be extremely competitive, with entrants from across the country, and even attracting participation from a husband-and-wife duo from Dominica. With the addition of prize money and the new Honey Cocktail Category, participants and spectators were in for a treat.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was sounded off with vibrant melodies of creole voices and African drums of the authentic Saint Lucia genre of “Solo Music” from the group “Campeche”. Visitors, dignitaries, and locals alike bobbed their heads to exotic mystical rhythms. Master of ceremonies quickly settled the audience and the programme swung into gear.
First to the podium was Mr. Giles Romulus (GEF SGP UNDP) National Coordinator for Saint Lucia, he gave an excellent presentation on the work the UN has done with Honey Producers in Saint Lucia, and shared a glimpse into the future, and spoke on the proposed MARLI (Makote Apiculture Research and Learning Institute). Next to the podium Mrs. Lesley Saunderson – Resident British Commissioner to Saint Lucia. Commissioner Saunderson, spoke to the importance of pollinators to the environment, and its positive legacy. Mr. Gregg Rawlins, IICA Representative in the ECS, also affirmed the positive potential of the apiculture sector, and outlined some of the work IICA has done in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean Region. Also present was Vita Bee Health Europe CFO, Mr. Jeremy Owen. Who spoke of his participation in the ARC, and Vita Bees work in the Caribbean over the years. Our feature presenter was Mr. Barrymore Felicien – Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, he complimented the speakers before him, and provided details of his ministries work within the sector.
Honey Show Results
The “Best in Show” for the Wax & Honey categories and “Most points in show” was a tightly fought affair this year with three points being the difference in both titles. After the dust had settled, Mr. Maxim Theodile was declared the winner of both titles and he became the Honey Shows first double champion. Mr. Maxim Theodile copped, first place in Extracted Light Honey, first place Chunk Comb honey, second place in Wax Block and 3rd place in Wax Candle.
Last year’s Best in show JEG Clarke only managed a 1st place in Dark Extracted Honey, 2nd place in Chunk Comb honey and a 3rd place in Extracted Medium honey. With Doson Stanley grabbing 1st place in Medium extracted honey, Wax block going to Hiliary Gabriel and Willie Alexander winning Wax candle. With the veteran beekeeper Mr. Theodile placing in five of six categories a new champion was crowned.
What we all did not bank on was a double champ in competition, with all the open categories being very competitive, our last year’s champion for “Most point in show” Natalie Alphonse was unable to place in any of the honey categories this year, but claimed a 1st in Adult Photography and a 3rd in Adult Art.
One of the most interesting outcomes for the open categories was the performance from students at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC). They made a clean sweep of the Baked Goods category with Jade Isadore coming out with 1st place, and in the Honey Cake category, SALCC claiming 2nd and 3rd with Bay Gardens Marine Haven taking 1st place, and in the Honey Cocktail category SALCC students placing 2nd and 3rd place, with the budding Mixologist Ed Richard (pictured to the left) taking the first place prize.
One of the key highlights of the event was the announcement by Head Judge Sue Cater that some of Honey from last year’s honey show was entered into the UK National Honey Show and was able to place 3rd and 4th places in Open Class 10 – Medal of Ukraine along with a second place Apis Club Cup.
This is clearly an important achievement and legacy of the HNHS which has provided opportunities for Saint Lucian beekeepers to participate in an international honey competition and be judged against international honey producers. By participating in this international competition, the standard and quality of honey and honey products can only improve.
Hopefully in the not-too-distant future Saint Lucia will be able to emulate the success of our Caribbean brothers and sisters in Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada in winning the Medal of Ukraine.
Giving Thanks
The 2nd Hewanorra National Honey Show could not have happened without the support of event title sponsors GEF SGP UNDP (St. Lucia), Ministry of Agriculture, IGY Marine and ARC 2022, and special debt of gratitude is owed to GEF SGP UNDP National Coordinator Mr. Giles Romulus.
Alongside the efforts of our title sponsors there was a collaborating team of sponsors and volunteers Iyanola Apiculture Collective (IAC), Ministry of Agriculture – Hon. Mr. Prosper & Mr. Sidney, SLHTA – Mr. Azeez, IICA – Mr. Gregg Rawlins & Brent Theophile, SLUNCF – Mr. Craig Thomas, Massy Stores – Mr. Dunston DeMille, Republic Bank – Mr. Kelly Mitchell, Bay Gardens Marine Haven – Ms. Daryl Aaron Export Saint Lucia – Ms. Sunita Daniel, Mann Lake Bee & AG Supply – Jenna Prososki, Vita Bee Health Europe – Mr. Jeremy Owen, Cox & Co. – Ms. Siobhan Beaubrun, MBC TV Andrew “Yardie” Haynes, JEB Copy Center – Jennifer Bak and The Trophy Center – Mrs. Lorde. To the event volunteers’ special thanks is extended starting with our Judges Ms. Sue Carter, Mr. Bill Fisher, Show Secretary and Assistant Secretary – Ms. Samantha Justin and Mrs Dalia Carobere, Show Steward – Mr. David Small.
The 2nd Hewanorra National Honey Show prize giving ceremony was televised live on Helen Television System on 21st December 2022, some pictures from the ceremony below.