The list of celebratory events commemorating The Bahamas’ 40th anniversary were unveiled yesterday during a press conference.

With only three months left to the big day, Bahamians are waiting anxiously to see the plans lined up to bring in July 10th.
Co-chair for the Independence Celebrations Committee Charles Carter said the celebrations will hit every settlement on every island and will allow many talented Bahamians across the country to display their talents.

“District administrators, local officials and patriotic volunteers have been working assiduously in their respective communities to create programmes of celebrations that would resonate with local communities so that the spirit of the nation’s 40th is shared by all,” he said.

“The Freeport and Grand Bahama Organisation has used the occasion to have town meetings that welcomed and inspired interesting ideas about community, some of which our national committee will share with the public at a future press conference.”

The calendar of events has an extensive variety of celebratory activities from homecomings, regattas and annual festivals to concerts, sporting events and official state ceremonies.

Mr. Carter also noted that some of the events may receive more attention than others, with the first being the upcoming Family Island regatta in George Town, Exuma which he said will allow the government to celebrate certain local and national heroes of Exumian heritage.

“This is a template that the committee hopes to utilise throughout our archipelago as we use the occasion to tell our stories and to sing our songs,” he said.

“Our embassies and consuls abroad, from as close as Miami or as far away as Beijing, have organised celebrations for the 40th anniversary as well.”

Also on the list of events, the Chris Brown invitational Meet scheduled for this Saturday, the Bahamas National Gospel Excellence Awards in May and the Sir Lynden Pindling Legacy Ball on June 6.

The co-chair promises the public that the independence celebrations website will be up and running before the week is out so that everyone can know when and where events will be happening.