National Independence Committee to unveil Independence Calendar tomorrow

As the country inches closer to its 45th anniversary of independence, the National Independence Committee will this week be informing the public of activities planned for the annual festivities.

A press conference scheduled for Wednesday, September 25,2024,will provide full details of the events calendar. So far, the only event announced is the Best Village competition which returned in 2023 as a part of the national festival after being discontinued for close to two decades.

The competition garnered much attention last year with Belair taking the overall title.

National Independence Committee member, Rodney Small, said the competition encompasses more than just clean-up of the communities and should be viewed as an activity to bring residents together.

“ …keeping our committee clean, not only in terms of the environment but also in terms of the people- how do we live better in the community,” Small said on NBC Radio

Submissions for the competition close on October 6, and will be judged in four categories: Best Flower Garden, Best Kept Surroundings, Best Community Spirit and Overall Best Village.

Small said the 45th anniversary celebrations of the country’s independence should not be understated and the Committee intends to focus its messages on positive aspects of the country’s growth over the years.

“I want persons to understand the importance of celebrating 45 years of independence, and we have to move to the emotional attachment of that as a country, as a small developing state. There are a lot of things that have been happening, unfortunately, but there is still a lot that we need to be grateful for as a country. Those are some of the messages we want to highlight.”

Registration forms for the Best Village competition are available at the office of the Carnival Development Corporation, Victoria Park, and the Department of Culture.