Float and street parade for Emancipation Day
Independence Village to open doors on Thursday
Published:Tuesday | July 26, 2022 | 12:09 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
In June, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport invited Jamaicans to submit designs for the Jamaica 60 Float and Street Parade which is part of the Emancipation and Independence celebrations.
According to the Culture Minister, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, there have been some minor challenges, including finding persons who can design and make floats as many of the foundation artists have taken their knowledge to their graves.
“What’s interesting is that a lot of people who were able to make these large floats have passed on and the skill has not been passed on to the younger generation,” Grange told The Gleaner.
Nonetheless, Grange was not discouraged and has shared that, “for this commemorative year, we will definitely have a float and street parade on Emancipation Day.”
“We found two original persons (artists) and others have been exposed but not in as intricate [a] way as these two persons, but we are pulling it together. Going forward we are going make sure we have a large pool of young people who are able to use and develop those skills,” she said.
Grange added, “Right after the celebrations, the plan is to host workshops for artists to be exposed and develop those necessary skills. In the meantime, we were able to bring in some young people who had certain skills, and we were able to build out some floats and there is going to be a diverse presentation.”
It has been said that the atmosphere will mimic that of carnival with spectacular float designs representing Jamaica’s culture and experience. Grange said that there will be one float that depicts religion, another that showcases groups such as Jonkunno and large effigies of national heroes and a balloon float.
“Even the children will be excited about it and we will be going through the streets of Kingston. Hopefully, soon in the future, we can do both Kingston and Montego Bay. The last time we were able to celebrate was in 2019 and I remember the President of Kenya saying ‘you have outdone yourself, what next’. Well, wait and see. It’s going to be a great,” Grange asserted.
The set-up of the Independence Village is under way at the National Indoor Sports Centre and is expected to open its doors on Thursday, July 28 until Friday, August 5 and then on Saturday, August 6 the Grand Gala moves into the National Stadium.
Grange was excited to announce several activities for the ‘Emancipendence’ period including the Festival Queen Coronation, Jamaica Gospel Star final, Old School Dancehall Night “which is going to be extra special as the old time disc jockeys and selectors will be coming in,” and all across the island there will be flag racing, among other celebratory engagements.