There will be no public half-holiday this Thursday, for Junior Carnival.Cabinet Secretary Susan Dougan told SEARCHLIGHT last night that the request for a public half holiday to accommodate Junior Carnival had been denied.{{more}}
She, however, said that all schools will be granted a half holiday.
âThere will be no public holiday for businesses and the public service,â Dougan said.
Junior Carnival, originally slated for June 29, had to be postponed from last Saturday, because of adverse weather conditions.
Chairman of the Carnival Bands Association Hugh Raguette had told SEARCHLIGHT earlier yesterday that he was confident that the half holiday would be given.
â… We were assured that it will be granted. Itâs been recommended by the higher authoritiesâ¦
âSaturday (July 6) was the very first option, but was ruled out because of the logistics involved in relation to the ragga and power soca monarch show later that same day,â he added.
Raguette, however, said he doesnât foresee any difficulties in the children getting prepared for the event.
âSchool is scheduled to close on the same Thursday.
So, we donât see much difficulty in parents making the necessary adjustmentsâ¦,â he said.
Raguette noted that the hosting of Junior Carnival on a Thursday would be very unusual, but he is confident that it will be a success.
âI believe that more people will be out looking at the Junior Carnival compared to the past several years, because itâs a Thursday. Itâs a working day and therefore more working people will be around,â he said.
Junior Carnival will commence at 1 p.m. at the Victoria Park.
Raguette said the children will assemble at the WIBDECO shed, then proceed along Bay Street to the corner of Linley Street and Bay Street, going past the Public Health Department, then on to Back Street and from there, into Victoria Park.
There will, however, be no jump up on the streets after the bands appear on stage, Raguette said.
Thursdayâs Junior Carnival will feature 13 registered mas bands.
Blondie Bird and Friends won last yearâs Junior Carnival with their presentation of âA Glimpse of Kingstown.â (AA)