The decision to hold the 51st Independence Anniversary flag-raising ceremony at the Stabroek Market Square has been rescinded and the government is now considering using the Parade Ground, according to Town Clerk Royston King.
King told Stabroek News yesterday that when the relevant stakeholders, including the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), who were involved in making initial decision to hold it at the Stabroek Market Square, took a practical look at the option, they discovered that there would be too many challenges to prepare the area for the event. As such, the decision was made to consider other options, with the Parade Ground being at the top of the list.
King further explained that various logistical issues, such as the relocation of buses and taxis that are operating in the area, along with the disruption of the vendors heavily influenced the change of decision.
“There were also the challenges of security arrangements and undertaking the massive clean-up, including doing remedial works to certain sections of the front of the market, above and below the canopy, painting, decorating, lighting along with other logistics to provide for a smooth flow of traffic,” King pointed out, stating that while the challenges were “not impossible to overcome,” when the time frame was considered, it was deemed not to be the best option.
“So those things influenced a preference for the Parade Ground,” King added, while pointing out that the M&CC would also need to work on the Parade Ground to ensure that it is in prime shape to host the ceremony.
“It needs sprucing up and we had already done works on it for the World Earth Day but we just need to continue to spruce it up and to ensure that we have proper lighting and accommodation,” he said. The Parade Ground poses less of a challenge to prepare when compared with the Stabroek Market Square.
However, King also mentioned that the M&CC would be hosting several independence anniversary events at the Stabroek Market Square and was therefore asking all of the vendors to ensure that they keep the area clean and tidy. He said the council would be doing additional work to ensure that the area is in a presentable manner.
After it was announced by the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, that the flag raising ceremony and celebration would be held at the Stabroek Market Square, questions were raised by the public, given that some $1.37 billion were spent to construct the D’Urban Park facilities just a year ago.
But King had said he was elated that the government had made such a decision and that some $100 million would be spent to prepare the square, temporarily relocating the vendors, minibuses and hire cars around the area.
Meanwhile there has been no word on the change of venue from the ministry or from the team which comprises National Events Director Lt Colonel Godfrey Bess, Director of Culture Tamika Boatswain, Youth Director Melissa Carmichael and Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry, along with others.
Stabroek News was unable to contact anyone from the team but was told a meeting was supposed to be held sometime soon followed by a press conference.
However, a source from the ministry explained that factors such as the inclement and unpredictable weather and public dissatisfaction with the decision were two of the reasons behind the decision to change from the venue from the Stabroek Market Square.
The source also explained that D’Urban Park was not being considered since unlike the 50th anniversary, which was an important milestone and when a large crowd was expected, this year was likely to have a smaller crowd.
The controversy surrounding D’Urban Park had started early last year when the facility, still under construction had been found to have large cracks and defects in its wooden stands. At the time, the construction had been under the control of Larry London, though the government had made no announcement of his role and who else had been working with him.
President David Granger later announced that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure would take over responsibility for the project and would employ two shifts working urgently to meet the deadline for celebrations. It was later revealed by an audit that the construction cost was some $1.37 billion.
A year later, the facilities are grossly underused; what was meant to cater for some 19,000 persons was turned into a shelter for vagrants and scattered recreational activities in the afternoon.
