By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Silent Fireworks on Independence Night!
That was the word from Jerome Lewis, Communications Strategist, at the Ministry of Culture and Community Development at a media conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Apart from the silent fireworks there will be a 500-drone display of fireworks, both at the Queen’s Park Savannah and San Fernando Hill.
Also present was Chief of Defence Staff, Commodore Don Polo, who will be the Parade Commander for the parade.
It would not be the first time that Polo will be the Parade Commander. The last Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Darryl Daniel, rode at the back of the Regiment jeep with the President.
Polo explained that various armed and unarmed detachments would take part in the parade, starting at 8 am. After the official parade is concluded opposite President’s House “on the grass”, the detachments would march along Queen’s Park East, then south along Frederick Street, west along Park Street to Tragarete Road, all the way to Long Circular Road, St James, where they would be dismissed at the Police Barracks football field.
Gold Commander for Independence Day, DCP Suzette Martin, said the security forces are ready and prepared for the occasion.
She said security would be tight with emphasis on the military parade and later the cultural event north of the Grand Stand. There will be children’s play park from 5 pm, followed one hour later by a cultural show featuring steelband, calypso, tassa and other elements of culture.
At 8 pm, Martin said the fireworks display would begin.
ACP Garvin Henry made it quite clear that parking restrictions would be in place for the military parade and the fireworks display. When asked about the CPL match that afternoon between TKR and the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Queen’s Park Oval, Henry said the T20 match has been taken into consideration in the security net.
Henry said there will be parking restrictions and a legal notice will be published shortly showing the restricted areas. He emphasized that the wreckers will be out in full force for persons who indiscriminately park.
As DCP Martin said, citizens should have a good time enjoying the parade and the cultural aspects of the day. But to those to want to involve themselves in violence, stay away.
