Hundreds of Barbadians are expected to gather in Independence Square this Sunday, November 22, for the National Independence Ecumenical Service.
"Passing on Our Godly Heritage to the next Generation" is the theme of the service, which begins at 4:00 p.m. and the public is invited to be seated by 3:30 p.m.
Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands and Prime Minister David Thompson are expected to lead a long list of dignitaries, school children, and various youth, sports and uniformed groups, who will be present to express thanks to God on the eve of this country’s 43rd anniversary of nationhood.
Monsignor Vincent Harcourt Blackett will welcome those in attendance, and later offer the benediction and blessing, while Reverend Keith Marshall, of the Church of God will give the opening prayer. The Right Reverend, Dr. the Hon. John Holder, the Anglican Bishop of Barbados, will deliver the sermon, while several prayers will be offered by representatives of other churches.
There will be musical selections from the Bayley’s School Choir and The Lester Vaughan School Gospel Choir, while lessons will be read by representatives of the Barbados Youth Development Council and Belmont Primary School. Class Two student of St. Luke’s Primary School, Shamon Fontanelle, will recite the national pledge.
Parking for specially invited guests attending the service will be in the car park of the Barbados Tourism Inc., Lower Bay Street, and there will be a number of traffic changes in the City.
In case of inclement weather, the ecumenical service will be shifted to the St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Transport Board’s Park and Ride Shuttle will be implemented. Buses will leave the Ministry of Education on Constitution Road, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Playing Field and the Coleridge Street Car Park, opposite Central Police Station, starting from 2:30 p.m.