By PETER GREEN
Leader of the Opposition, Penny Beckles-Robinson, lost out again!
The Independence Day Parade will be held on August 31.
Poor Penny was planning her own Independence Day celebrations if Government was planning not to have one.
Remember no Independence Day Parade was held in 2025 because of perceived threats which resulted in the State of Emergency (SoE) being declared on July 18. Well, there is a State of Emergency in effect which runs to September. So this year’s Independence Day parade will be held during the SoE.
Minister of Defence, Wayne Sturge, disclosed during the Standing Finance Committee meeting on Friday night, that Independence Day celebrations, including the traditional parade at the Queen’s Park Savannah, will be held.
At a meeting at the Laventille Community Centre, last Thursday night, Penny suggested the annual parade may not take place for a second consecutive year and said the People’s National Movement (PNM) was prepared to organize its own celebrations if the event was cancelled.
She said, “This is the second year. If you go to the Savannah, you will see that the North Stand is still up. They have not been practizing for any parade.”
PNM Arouca/Lopinot MP Marvin Gonzales noted that funding had increased from $190,000 by an additional $2.3 million and asked what accounted for the rise.
Minister Sturge replied that the increase was linked to Independence Day celebrations. Gonzales then asked whether the Government intends to hold Independence Day parade activities this year. “Yes,” Sturge responded. The Opposition MP further queried whether the entire $2.3 million increase would be allocated to Independence Day activities.
Sturge added, “It will be for the entire Independence Day celebration.”
Annually, money is spent on receptions at NAPA where the President and all dignitaries attend. There are others hosted by the Police Service, Fire Service, and Prison Service.
