The recent announcement by the National Commemoration Committee that it would be shifting the initial starting point for the Jubilee Float Parade was to facilitate the children’s float parade despite there being obvious disadvantages in doing so.
Noting that there would indeed be inconveniences as it relates to patrons having an opportunity to view the floats as they move east along Brickdam, Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry, affirmed that the main concern of the Government was to cater to the participating children.
Henry was at the time speaking at a news conference on Tuesday morning, where she justified the changing of the route of the parade just two days before the event.
When the question was asked of the Minister how patrons would be able to view the parade since there were limited spots along the route, Henry said the Ministry was aware of this setback, but at this point in time the main concern was creating a “child friendly route”.
“In terms of being advantageous or disadvantageous, it depends on how you look at it. For us, it is advantageous as it would allow
Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry and event coordinator Lennox Canterbury at the news conference on Tuesday morning
particularly our young people to cover a route that is child friendly,” she explained.
Ten children floats which had participated in the Mash Children Parade are set to take to the streets again on Thursday. Another 27 bands have enlisted to be part of the grand float parade.
Even though the Ministry had a target of 50 floats, Henry clarified that 27 agencies and Ministries have enlisted, but some are featuring more than one band.
In addition, 70 vendors have registered to ply their trade along the parade route after the announcement was made by the Committee that vending would only be allowed on the condition that all stalls are listed.
Underlining another factor that had stimulated the decision to have the route altered, Henry explained that the Stabroek Market Square has the requirements to be the assembly point but it had not always been vacant.
Since the decision was made to have the vendors relocated and given the spaciousness of the Square, all efforts were made to capture the golden opportunity.
The area surrounding the Market Square is the central hub of transportation, so Henry assured that mechanisms are in place to have traffic congestion reduced and where necessary, roads closed off.
The Minister informed that the traffic department of the Police Force would be on board in directing the traffic on that day, which “is a great opportunity for them to exhibit their skills and capabilities”.
The first float is set to leave the Market Square at 10:00h on Thursday, while the last float is to leave D’Urban Park at 17:30h the latest.
The Ministry also took the time to reiterate the changes as it relates to the sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) on Independence Day.
Henry reminded that certain roads would be closed off to facilitate the float parade so candidates are required to arrive at their schools and indicated centres before the parade begins.
