CATEGORY:CULTURAL CELEBRATION
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By Trevor Thwaites (Inside Grenada correspondent)

GRENVILLE, St.Andrew - Emancipation Day is also being celebrated with more favour and meaning this year in St Andrew. It’s being added to the activities put on by the St Andrews Development Committee (SADO). Previously it was celebrated on the first weekend in August and for the first time an Emancipation Day activity is being organized on the first of August. SADO officials say that the Annual Rainbow City Festival has emerged as a result of Emancipation Day.

It is being observed under the theme “Rekindling the Festival in the Spirit of Emancipation”. “We are encouraging that everyone dress in their African wear. We have already written to the business houses encouraging them to ask their staff to dress in their African Attire,” SADO Official Jacqueline Smith disclosed at a recent press conference in the City. She said that the celebration will start at Canal Road Junction with a march onto the Grenville Car Park, for several activities.

“We are encouraging not only the use of Candles, but the tradition flambeau or what we call the traditional Masanto.” The Guides, Traditional Mass Bands such the Shortnee and the Jab Jab, along with the Tivoli Drummers will lead the march that will end at the Car Park, where a number of activities will take place. The proclamation of Emancipation Day as it was read on August 1st 1838 will be done to be followed by short speeches from very important persons (VIPS).

This will be followed by a Drum fest, a cultural package featuring TUMDA, the Lab aye Folk Group, the Tivoli Drummers along with Poets and Story Tellers. Smith encourages the nation to turn outs in large numbers to celebrate Emancipation Day. “Like independence, let us show our colours of Emancipation and be at the Grenville Car Park from six o’clock on August 1st,” is the vociferous appeal from the SADO Official.