Culture Minister Neletha Butterfield has hailed this year's Gombey Festival a success.

The annual event was held on October 5 at the CedarBridge Academy gymnasium after bad weather forced a move from City Hall car park.

Gombey troupes from around the Island took part, as well as folk dancers from the Caribbean country of Montserrat.

Ms Butterfield told the House of Assembly on Friday: "This year's programme was spectacular in that, not only did we celebrate our own Gombeys and our 400th anniversary, but we also invited and featured a special group from Montserrat called the Emerald Shamioles. The whole programme for Gombey Festival 2009 was extremely entertaining."

She told MPs that John (Pickles) Spence, the leader of the popular Carnival Gombey Troupe, was also honoured at the festival for his contributions to the folk art.