![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Opening-of-Independence-flyer-642x963.jpg\")
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The official opening of the 47th Anniversary of Independence kicks off on Saturday, September 27, with a parade in the streets of Roseau from 3:00 PM.<\/p>\n
Chief Cultural Officer Earlson Matthew made the announcement while speaking on DBS Radio on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, last year, for the first time, we did the official opening parade. Of course, the day before that, we did the ceremony because we heard the complaints that people [don’t] like, you know, the speeches after the road and all of that.\u00a0 So we did the official opening and then the parade last year,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the parade was a success. It was a hit, I could say.\u00a0 People enjoyed it. And what we’re going to do this year is build on that. So, you know, we [took] note of things that needed improvement and things that worked well. And we’re just going to keep building on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201c I mean, there are things that we didn\u2019t feature, things like the marching band aspect. You remember Independence back in the days before the World Creole Music Festival, the highlight of the Independence season was actually the street parade, the military parade. So, I mean, the festival has grown…”<\/p>\n According to Matthew, organizers plan to include the element of the marching band.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we have the Cadet Corps with us [and] if we are talking of improvement from last we didn\u2019t feature dance so heavily, so we are going to feature bele on the road, we are going to feature the European round dances on the road,\u00a0 with live amplified traditional bands backing them up,\u201d he revealed. \u201cWe had two last year [and] we are going to double on that this year.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cWe are going to feature a float done by DEXIA [Dominica Export Import Agency] and the Local Government Division, which will highlight Market Day with a Difference, because that is another important part of the Independence season.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthew explained that the float will be a simulation of a market day, \u201cthe market stand and the produce\u2026they will be doing all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Furthermore, he said there will be another float featuring WATO, highlighting the cuisine aspect of Dominica\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n Additionally, Matthew encourages the general public to wear madras for the occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are asking the public to wear their madras on Saturday,\u201d he encouraged. \u201cWe want to make it inclusive, you don\u2019t just come and watch, you are part of it because you have to dress the part as well; look the part.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, he said the parade route will be similar to last year and will begin from the Pottersville Savannah to the City of Roseau, then will follow the Carnival route, \u201cFrom Independence Street, King George V Street, the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard, Kennedy Avenue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we get to Great George Street by Payless we make a left onto Great George Street, and all the way to the Bridge. We take a left onto the Promenade, which is different from last year,\u201d Matthew explained. \u201cLast \u00a0year we went through the market and came up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The official opening of the 47th Anniversary of Independence kicks off on Saturday, September 27, with a parade in the streets of Roseau from 3:00 PM. Chief Cultural Officer Earlson Matthew made the announcement while speaking on DBS Radio on…","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":349175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[38,8,235,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-349173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-entertainment","category-homepage-carousel","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Earlson-Matthew-1-300x263.jpg\")