There will be no Independence Gala this year and the Independence Day parade will be back at the Garrison Savannah as Barbados celebrates its 44th anniversary of Independence.
This was revealed when those in the Ministry of Family, Sports, Youth and Culture whose ministry has been entrusted with the preparations for the National Independence Day Service and the Independence Day Parade met at The Committee Room at the Parliament Building today.
Minister of Family, Sports, Youth and Culture Stephen Lashley said Cabinet has directed that there be a National Independence Service which will be held on November 28 at 4 p.m. in Independence Square, with St Mary’s Anglican Church being an alternative in the event of inclement weather.
Lashley also said Lashley added that the lighting ceremony, which is normally held on November 1 will not be held this year because of the challenges the Barbados Light and Power (BL&P) faced with the passage of Tropical Storm Tomas which affected the island on October 30.
He said Tomas had created structural and physical challenges and also placed a burden on the human resources of the BL&P in terms of getting the country back to full power. However, individual roundabouts which are sponsored by different people have still opted to light their roundabouts.
For the Independence Day service parking will be arranged at the Barbados Tourism Authority, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Ministry of Education car parks.
