Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence Day parade is being relocated to the Queen’s Park Savannah opposite President’s House this year, with Shadow Member of Parliament for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West Phillip Edward Alexander suggesting the new venue could usher in a fresh approach to the country’s national celebrations while potentially saving taxpayers millions.Speaking to the Express yesterday Alexander confirmed the change in location for the August 31 parade.
SAVANNAH WORKSITE: Piles of aggregate and a steamroller yesterday atthe Queen’s Park Savannah, where construction is under way opposite President’s House ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.—Photo courtesy MP Stuart Young’s Facebook page
He said the move should not necessarily be viewed as a scaled-down version of the traditional celebrations, but as an opportunity to experiment with a different format while potentially reducing the cost of staging the event.Alexander urged citizens to approach the change with an open heart.
SHADOW MP: Phillip Edward Alexander
The Independence Day parade has traditionally been held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, with dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, seated in the Grand Stand.Trinidad and Tobago, however, did not have an Independence Day parade last year after the Government cited ongoing national security operations under the state of emergency and advice from security experts. The parade and fireworks were instead replaced by a National Day of Prayer and Reflection.Alexander said now was as good a time as ever to reconsider how the celebrations are staged.“I have no information if (this year’s relocated parade) will be scaled down or grander, but everything this government has done so far has been bigger and better than what obtained before, like the Flava event in the Queen’s Park Savannah that people doubted in the beginning, but now they are calling for Flava 12 months out of the year.”The Flava Village was a admission-free culinary and cultural food hub introduced for the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2026.He said the new location could offer a more attractive setting for the parade and potentially transform the event.“This could very well be a grand reinvention of the parade in a nice picturesque part of the Savannah, which shades for the onlookers. It is a really good location for the event. I am surprised it was not done before.”Alexander also suggested that the move could result in significant savings by eliminating the need to dismantle and reconstruct the North Stand for Carnival.“I know that if there is a rationale for the move, then it has to do with the fact that the North Stand is still there and it would save the country a lot of money not having to take down and put back up the North Stand every Carnival. I think that costs about $5 million for the year, so that is a substantial saving.”He said the new venue could ultimately prove to be a change the country did not know it needed.“This new location may become something we never knew we always needed.”Alexander urged citizens to experience the new format before judging it.“Change is good. Change can be beneficial. We have been carrying on a certain way for some time and now we have the opportunity to experiment with different ways of doing things, better ways of doing things.”He pointed to Carnival 2026 as an example of how changes to established traditions could produce positive results.Alexander said Carnival 2026 was one of the country’s best ever festivals, based on changes the Government was willing to make.“I am very excited to see what this new parade would be like.”Environmental concernsMP for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West Stuart Young yesterday took to social media to raise environmental concerns about the construction taking place at the Queen’s Park Savannah.“I was surprised to see what appears to be a significant structure being erected opposite the President’s House in the Queen’s Park Savannah along with piles of aggregate and a steam roller,” Young said.“I am asking the Kamla Persad Bissessar government what is being erected here and what paving, if any, is proposed to take place in the “Savannah”? Is this related to a scaled down Independence Day Parade? Who is erecting this structure and for what? Is paving proposed, if so, why and for what? The green spaces in our beloved Savannah should not be destroyed and desecrated. What is taking place? I look forward to urgent answers,” he said.Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne said any damage to the green space could affect residents of the capital city.Alleyne said he had asked the Port of Spain City Corporation’s management to look into the activity taking place at the site.That section of the Queen’s Park Savannah, however, falls under the responsibility of the Horticultural Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.Calls to Alleyne, Agriculture Minister Ravi Rattiram and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge seeking information about the work at the site went unanswered yesterday.
