05/02/2016
St. George’s, Grenada, February 05, 2015, NCC: - The National Celebrations Committee is preparing for the major event to celebrate Grenada’s 42nd Anniversary of Independence. Sunday will culminate a month long period of celebration that included sporting and cultural activities. The committee that has been appointed approximately ten months ago sees this year’s celebration as vibrant and energized with patriotism.
A number of new initiatives will be added to Sunday’s celebrations that have been in the making for more than eleven months and have been the brain child of Sen. Brenda Hood, Minister responsible for Culture and Heritage. According to the minister, persons often felt the need to remain at the stadium in a celebratory mood and therefore there is the need to generate additional activities for February 7, Independence Day.
The day will commence with the Military Parade at 10 am followed by the National Rally and awards ceremony. For the first time persons will receive national awards and not the usual Independence awards. Several awardees will receive their medals on Sunday including persons who were awarded since 2008 to 2016. A total of twenty eight awards will be bestowed on recipients during Sunday’s Rally.
Organizers are expecting a large turn out and are preparing to accommodate a number of foreign dignitaries joining the celebrations. A contingent of Venezuelan Paratroopers will parachute into the National Stadium during the military parade; this is usually a very exciting aspect of the celebrations, according to the NCC Chairperson Ann Marie Marecheau. She also stated that there will be a Chinese dance troupe performing during the cultural performances as well.
The day is expected to have all its pomp and ceremonial attributes with the inspection of the troops by the Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenada. Prime Minister Dr. the right Hon. Keith Mitchell will deliver his independence address to the nation.
The Made in Grenada Expo will see some sixty exhibitors displaying all things local and is expected to attract a lot of interest. The planned cultural extravaganza will provide entertainment during the afternoon period with performances from pan and calypsonians and the drum corps will engage in a round robin competition to entertain the crowd. The day will end with a massive fireworks display.
The NCC extends Independence greetings to the nation and look forward to a grand day at the National Stadium on Sunday when all are expected to gather rallying under the theme, “Striving towards our destiny with faith and courage as one people”.
