THE BARBADOS TOURISM Product Authority (BTPA) invited Bajans to Come Town to be part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Barbados’ Independence on Wednesday evening, and hundreds accepted the invitation.
It was the second time that the BPTA attempted to put on the event after rains caused the authority to postpone it the previous Wednesday.
Despite the showers that threatened the event this Wednesday, chief executive officer at the BTPA, Kerry Hall, told the WEEKEND NATION that they were not expecting large crowds but she said they did not want to have a reputation as a company that cancelled every time the rain fell.
“Last week we made the call because we knew that if the rain fell Bajans were not going to come out. So today the exact same thing happened but we could not postpone it for a second time so we had to go with a leap of faith and have the event,” she said.
Barbadians watching as the Chamberlain bridge rose last night as a part of the BTPA’s Come Town event. Â
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The activities began around 5:45 p.m. with a succession of events including a line dance showcase at Beckwith Square; over at the Wickham Lewis Boardwalk there was Piano On The Boardwalk, but Swan Street was where the event kicked into high gear.
Several dance groups turned the brick street into an outdoor dance studio. Onlookers formed a circle in the middle but they soon had to make way for the dancers who came strutting to the music of the Tuk Band.
The groups included the Haynesville Youth Group, ADL Adrenalin Dance group, Dancin’ Africa, Livy And Betty Dance Centre and Praise Academy Of Dance, who all performed dances from several styles, including ballroom, hip-hop and contemporary.
The event then moved to Independence Square, where a there was zone for children, food on sale and a stage set up, where the crowd was well entertained and given merchandise.
At 7:45 the Chamberlain Bridge was raised and everyone tried to get the best vantage point to see the structure mechanically moved skyward.
The raising of the bridge made way for the barge which carried the band and the stage for entertainers such as Peter Ram, Red Plastic Bag, Biggie Irie and Aziza who performed to a receptive audience. (TSG)
