[dropcap]C[/dropcap]elebrations for the fortieth anniversary of Saint Lucia’s Independence are set to begin this month. The planning committee’s chairperson, Jeanine Giraudy-McIntyre, promises the island can look forward to over a year-long experience to commemorate this milestone. Although Saint Lucia was granted Independence in February 1979, this year’s related celebrations will officially begin on December 12, 2018 with a grand launch at the Festival of Lights and Lantern Parade.
The ceremonial tagline, website and video will be revealed along with a logo chosen by the committee after a short competition earlier this year. Celebrations will end on December 19, 2019.
Giraudy-McIntyre says her committee will go beyond promoting only government-backed activities. In an appeal on Monday she said: “I want to encourage the public to come out, participate, listen keenly to what is going to take place and encourage everyone to know we are all in because it’s our journey and our future.”
She urged all organisations, groups and the diaspora to submit ideas to the 40th Independence Planning Committee. People can also arrange to have Independence-themed activities marked on the calendar of events for the year-long celebration. She added: “We also want to provide opportunities for maximum economic spin off.”
Buffalo Odlum is the coordinator of the planning committee. He made a special appeal to creatives, artists and cultural activists to offer their ideas for the upcoming scope of activities. He said, “There’s a lot to celebrate after forty years and we’re looking to encompass every sector and every aspect of our society in Saint Lucia, in all the diasporas. It’s a very exciting time, we have a very hardworking team and we’ve been spending day and night trying to plan, and coordinating how we’re going to bring the celebrations together.” He encouraged the public that Saint Lucia has a lot of achievements over the past forty years to celebrate.
The current president of the National Youth Council, Jeshrun Andrew, is the representative for young people on the planning committee. He says that there’s a special focus on youth activities for anniversary celebrations and more ideas are still welcome. Two of the planned youth activities are Youth Parliament, which will have its first sitting in February and the second in April, and Strides of Unity, an island-wide run.
The public can obtain more information and the specified calendar of events by December 12, 2018, when the planning committee will make further announcements. For more information contact independenceslu40@gmail.com.
