The Port of Spain City Corporation held its annual City Day Parade on Monday in commemoration of the city’s anniversary.
Monday’s parade featured both military and paramilitary groups, including arms of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Defence Force, the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force, the Military Led Academic Training Programme (MiLAT), and the Pathfinders.
This year, the City Corporation will be celebrating 111 years of the restoration of civic rights to the people.
Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne explained that the annual event commemorates the struggles of our forefathers in regaining governance for the people of Port of Spain and further advancing the country’s goal of self-determination.
“Several of our great citizens of the time fought and struggled in order to regain a say in our own affairs and in 1914, they were successful. So, every year we celebrate that milestone. It’s a significant milestone, not just for the people who call Port of Spain their home, but it’s a significant milestone for Trinidad and Tobago on our march towards having generally a say in all of our day-to-day affairs.”
Mayor Alleyne said plans to further develop the city continue, with projects such as the flood mitigation exercise yielding results.
“In the last few weeks where we’ve had the rain events, there has not been as much flooding in the downtown area as there had been in the past. We believe that that’s due to the work that we’ve been doing and that we’re continuing to do. We’ve made some significant investment in our machinery in order to do that, and the work continues.”
The Mayor said the public can look forward to other City Day activities.
“The celebrations continue this Thursday with our Civic Reception, where we will be honouring several citizens that have made a significant contribution to the city in several spheres, whether it’s in business or in culture or any social aspect. We also have our career fair that’s going to be happening next week to encourage all of the young people and everybody in the city in supporting them in their quest for employment opportunities. And we have our inter-department sporting events, our cricket competition, our football competition. The staff is eagerly awaiting all of that, and so I have to go in the cricket nets and get some practice in.”
City Day is commemorated on June 26th.