Due to lack of funds, activities in West Grand Bahama to mark the country’s 33rd independence anniversary have been scaled down, according to administrator for the Western District Charles King.
“Because we have not received anything in the way of a budget so far this year [officials in the Western District] were unable to plan properly,” Mr. King said.
“If you are going to plan to have some functions, expenses are going to be incurred. So far we have not been able to access any information pertaining to funding for additional events.”
Mr. King said local government officials in West Grand will host three childrenﾒs parties on Monday July 10; in Pinderﾒs Point, Eight Mile Rock and West End.
“We were hoping to have some more activities. However, when it come to the fireworks and the ecumenical service, we will join up with the committee for Freeport,” Mr. King explained.
Meanwhile, Alexander Williams, administrator for the City of Freeport, spoke about plans for the anniversary celebrations.
These, he said, will include the traditional ecumenical service, a police parade, a flag raising ceremony at the Independence Park, and a cultural extravaganza, and childrenﾒs party at Taino Beach.
Mr. Williams said there will be a competition for the best decorated commercial building or office and the best decorated residential property in Freeport as an additional feature.
Laurie Bullard, one of the organizers of the activities, said, “The goal of this competition is to promote an awareness, pride and patriotism among business and residential communities in the Freeport/Lucaya area.”
The cultural extravaganza competition will involve the decoration of business establishments, including government departments and agencies, and private businesses, as well as the decoration of residential properties.
“These two categories will be judged according to the following criteria: originality, creativity, presentation, national colours, and Bahamian things, that is, display of indigenous Bahamian depiction,” Ms. Bullard said.
“Residences will be judged on their outward depiction of national pride and patriotism, and business establishments will be judged by their indoor and outward depiction of national pride and patriotism.”
Plaques will be awarded to the winners while all entrants will receive certificates of participation. Prizes will be presented during the week of July 9 through 14.
The overall first, second and third place winners will be selected in each of the two categories.
All interested persons would need to contact the Department of Public Service to register.
Also included in this yearﾒs festivities as a special feature is the Local Heroes Wall of Fame, which will honour persons dubbed “local heroes” annually.
Persons will be chosen for their contribution to medicine, community service, administration, culinary arts, hospitality, boat building, fisheries, farming, writing religion, law enforcement, law, education and business.
The brightest students will also be featured on the Wall of Fame.
Meanwhile, Police Superintendent Clarence Rahming said members of the public can expect the same standard of performance they have come to expect from the police during the parade.
“There will be numerous battalions participating this year, including one to two females who shall carry rifles this year. The motorcycle group and the fire display and the police band will be out in their normal splendor,” he said.
By: Daphne McIntosh, The Bahama Journal
