Although many national leaders were noticeably absent from the Independence Celebrations at Clifford Park on Saturday night, organizers of the event said that they were generally pleased with the turnout at the festivities given the threat of inclement weather that hung over the gathering.
Bahamians and visitors alike enjoyed an all-Bahamian independence concert at Arawak Cay on Sunday night which was followed by an explosive Junkanoo Rush-out in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Fewer than half of the Cabinet showed up at the national event and there was also a dismal showing of other senior government officials and members of parliament. But Prime Minister Perry Christie did show up to enjoy the function.
Peter Deveax-Isaacs, deputy chairman of the Independence Celebrations Committee, said the event was a success.
“We know that there were people who were concerned and they expressed their concerns about the lack of the Law Enforcement Tatoo and we listened carefully to some of the concerns expressed about the programme itself,” Mr. Deveux-Isaacs said.
“Some people expressed the concern that the event was not uplifting as it could have been, that some of the hymns in the ecumenical service were somewhat somber and also that Prophet Lawrence Rolle (known as the Singing Prophet) ought to have been given a longer time.
“But I think we were very pleased with the turnout given the fact that we were very concerned about the weather. All during the day the skies were overcast and there were the CAC Games.”
There was a heavy religious focus during the event with the programme starting at 8:30 pm with a performance from the national liturgical dancers.
There was also a youth band explosion, featuring performances from the Pathfinders, Bain and Grants Town Youth Band, and the Church of God of Prophecy Youth Band.
Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Neville Wisdom called the programme change a refreshing one.
He said his ministry intentionally focused on the talents of young Bahamians.
“Change is always refreshing,” Minister Wisdom told The Bahama Journal. “We have been investing the people’s money in these youth bands so we thought that we must put them on display.”
There were others who appreciated the change as well.
“The programme was very good and I enjoyed all the different youth bands,” said Kenneth Ferguson, a spectator. “It was very nice to finally have a change.”
Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest also appeared pleased with the event.
“The independence anniversary celebration gave Bahamians an opportunity recognize things Bahamian, celebrate what it means to be a Bahamian, [and] pay tribute to the symbols of The Bahamas,” Mr. Turnquest said.
“What is wonderful out here this evening is that we have performances like the youth bands. That shows that there is a bright future for our country and to recognize the number of bright young musicians in the country.”
Catholic Archbishop Patrick Pinder, who earlier delivered the main message of the evening, indicated that the event was a reflective one.
“I suppose that every year we come out here and perform this service to remind us of the very first time in 1973 when the flag was raised for the first time,” Archbishop Pinder said.
“It was done in the context of a very prayerful ceremony and I think that we constantly try to recreate that to remind ourselves of the solemnest of the occasion of our independence.”
By: Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
