Large crowds participate in Barrouallie Nine Mornings programme

The Barrouallie Nine Mornings Committee is satisfied with their 2023 programme and very impressed with the response from the large crowds that came out every morning to participate.

Ronnie Richardson, who is serving his first year as Chairperson of the Committee spoke with SEARCHLIGHT following the conclusion of activities on December 22 at the Barrouallie Town Square. He said even on days when there was heavy rain, they had a large crowd.

“Persons have been coming out, and what we have noticed is that the crowd has been building every day as we go by. So every day, the crowd has been getting bigger and bigger, and I am indeed proud.”

He said one of the aims of the Committee is to incorporate the cultural and historical aspects of the town and surrounding communities into the Nine Mornings festivities. Therefore, on Tuesday, December 19, they had an ‘Old Time Morning’ during which historical artefacts, including a goose iron, a CRT television and a rotary telephone were on display.

Richardson said the children and adults were asked about the items. “… So we are continuing to acknowledge our history because this is what you know, would, would tell us who we are, inform us of who we are and guide us forward.”

He said much attention was not placed on the town’s fishing heritage.

“We didn’t focus a lot on that because, … we can’t do everything one time. But there were persons who came up, and sang songs pertaining to that identifying mark of us as a community, but we plan to explore that more next year, God willing, in the years to come.”

Richardson said when the Committee began making preparations, there were negative comments from some passers-by. However, once the launch, which included a street parade and a gospel concert took place, attitudes changed and people began offering assistance.

“We started getting sponsorship. People were like, you know … I didn’t know you all want lights … I didn’t know. And persons just started, you know, pouring out their support, and it is evident in the fact that so many persons are here this morning and from time to time you would see somebody come and drop off a bag of snacks or a bag of toys or something and say it’s for the children, and we are really, really pleased with the support that we have gotten this year in particular.”

He spoke of efforts in the past by persons such as Anne Pierre which served as motivation for the current Committee members. “She was the person who was heading the committee before me for the past 13 or 14 years thereabout, and she has been doing it through thick and thin; to negative comments, positive comments … she has been there and even when I took over, she facilitated a smooth transition, from her committee to the committee that I’m now heading, that comprises pretty much persons from her committee.”