Vehicles may very well be banned from next year’s Labour Day Parade, according to Labour Minister Dion Foulkes.
Mr. Foulkes said that he spoke with the presidents of both the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) along with representatives of Sir Randol Fawkes’ family to review the process and content of the parade.
The minister said, “there’s a strong feeling among the labour leaders that maybe we need to go back to how it was in the past, with not so many big flat beds and trucks and the type of music.”
He also said that this decision will be left to the labour leaders because, after all, it is their parade.
The Minister said, “the Fawkes family has played a major role in terms of advising us, in terms of what to do and of course, I will consult my colleagues to get their views also.”
Mr. Foulkes’ comments came on the heels of those made by TUC President Obie Ferguson in the aftermath of Friday’s tragedy.
Mr. Ferguson, at the time pointed out that stringent rules must be put in place to ensure that vehicles are fit to participate in the Labour Day Parade.
In fact, he promised to work with police to “do it the way it’s suppose to be done” to avoid such a tragedy from reoccurring.
As for those injured during the parade, Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands said that they’re progressing.
He said, “A number of them remain in hospital. They are convalescing as well can be expected and so we’re grateful that of the 24 people injured, those that remain in hospital seem to be moving along.”
The four people killed during the parade have also been identified as Tami Gibson, The Bahamas Financial Services Union’s Assistant Secretary General, Diane Gray-Ferguson, Mother of the Union’s Trustee, Tiffany Moss, Former BFSU Member, Tabitha Bethel-Haye.