The 2023 Independence Day Parade promises to be “spectacular” when it comes off at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex on Thursday, November 30, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
This assurance has come from Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams, who announced the venue change during a press conference in the Ministry’s conference room yesterday.
The parade will have its usual numbers with 17 detachments and a total of 976 persons on show including the Massed Band. It will also feature the pinning of the leadership badges, the presentation of the national honours and an address by the Prime Minister.
In addition, the Barbados Landship which is celebrating a milestone this year, will also feature as a part of the parade along with other cultural organisations.
After leaving the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, the parade will move to the roundabout, travel along Black Rock Main Road, before the Prime Minister and Cabinet take the salute at the Carlton Supermarket Complex. The parade will then turn right and go down Carlton Road and disband at the Carlton Cricket Club Sports Facility.
Mr. Abrahams apologised for the delay in announcing the venue for the parade, while describing the arrangements as “moving targets”. He explained that during the planning phase for the parade, a number of site visits were conducted at traditionally used venues such as Kensington Oval, the Garrison Savannah, the Bridgetown Port, the Weymouth pasture near the Weymouth Police Sports Club and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
However, none of these options was viable for varying reasons. The Information Minister explained that the venue for the parade must be close to a bus route; there must be easy access for the troops to get into the venue and it must be able to accommodate spectators. He added that the location should also be suitable for a march past and foster community involvement.
“It is not just the venue; it is what follows the parade and surrounds the venue. We needed to have a place that could accommodate as many people as possible….
“We had to be certain that we could have the area prepared in time to accommodate the entire parade,” he said, noting that they also had to work with a number of other agencies to make it possible,” Mr. Abrahams outlined.
He added that arrangements were being made to facilitate all persons who want to attend, with the Barbados Transport Board responsible for “ferrying and shuttling” persons from the bus stand and the five Park and Ride spots.
Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Commodore Errington Shurland, urged persons not to “knock the venue until you [have] tried it”, and insisted that the space was adequate to host the annual event.
He noted that plans were in place to accommodate 2, 700 people at the parade, and invited persons to come out and watch the rehearsals. There will be a rehearsal today, Thursday, November 23, at 5:00 p.m.; on Saturday, November 26, at 7:00 a.m. and the final one on Monday, November 27, at 3:00 p.m. All rehearsals take place at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Barbados Police Service, Sylvester Louis, said the Black Rock route was easy to manage. He noted that residents from the Black Rock community, Barbadians and visitors were welcome to come out and view the parade. “You will be safe,” he assured.