Understandably, one would have mixed emotions on this Independence Day. I believe someone sang it in a calypso “fifty one (51) years gone how you feel???
The pomp and ceremony of the Independence Day Parade, for a little while, distracted from the evils facing the nation. Just yesterday, Central Trinidad was flooded out and some residents of Cunupia had their roofs blown off, by what they described as a mini tornado. This coupled with the killings in East Port of Spain over the past weeks and the political goings on, one would have to be a nail to be undisturbed. Believe what you may it is only the hand of the Almighty God, that can help turn around this nation and we can only hope and pray that their will be many more Independence Day Parades for the nation by the Grace of God.
No wonder, as the parade marched on, spectators around me commented that “the parade not nice like before, it smaller” one woman said “they did not have as many vehicles this year and they moving fass fass man”. Some spectators, may be new to the event did not seem to share that view and smiled, waved and clapped as the various sections of the parade passed by. People seemed particularly as always, to enjoy the music bands of the various arms of the force as they played popular calypsos. The men, women and young people especially those in the Cadet Force taking part in the parade, must be complemented for doing our country proud especially since the early morning sun seemed to be angry. Do enjoy the photos especially if you did not make it to the parade and God Bless Our Nation.