Kingston's street parade provides colour

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

The Kingston and St Andrew Street Parade of brightly costumed groups, energetic marching bands and decorated sound trucks took command of the normally busy Hope Road to Half-Way Tree Road, unto Oxford road, before terminating at the Little Theatre on Friday, Jamaica's Independence Day.

The parade of revellers was led by a fleet of classic cars including a Corona, a Volkswagen, a Rover and a Mini Cooper. Aloft the sides and backs of the cars were the third, second and first-place winners of the Jamaica Cultural Commission Festival Queen 2010, Miss Jamaica World and Miss Universe. The vintage cars were followed by a convoy of motorcyclists.

And behind the motorcyclists, but strategically placed in batches of groups after a marching band or sound truck, the costumed groups bore clearly written banners with catchy titles such as 'Eat What You Grow', 'The People Who Came', 'Crunch Time', 'Inner City Sun Rise' and 'We Believe in Jamaica' - a slight deviation of the Jamaica Festival 2010 theme "I Believe in Jamaica".

Believing in Jamaica

Tiyce Walker, a member of the group told The Gleaner, before the group departed the Lawns of the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, what her group believed in Jamaica.

"We believe in the heroes, food, music and ourselves," she said.

Among the five marching bands was the St Patrick All-Star Marching Band from Seaview Gardens that led the first batch of costumed groups. Smartly dressed in his gold-band uniform, a proud Dwayne Swaby, member of the band explained that the band was chosen because they are the number one band in the corporate area, a conclusion based on the result of a competition they entered. The band competition was organised by a Montego Bay group.

Other bands participating in the parade were St Jude's, Mighty Flyers, Inner City and St Michael's Marching Band.

The three sound trucks, the Claro, Bare Essentials and the Jamaican Chinese with their live music provided great entertainment for not only the members of the costumed groups, but also the many onlookers who lined the streets. All three trucks were nicely decorated.

Chinese history

But the Chinese used their decoration to sum up their Jamaican history through three exhibits. Placed at one end of the truck was a patch of sugar canes. One side of the truck was marked '1854 -1886'. There was also a shop on the truck with the words from Negril to Morant Point. Below the shop, a label read '1887-1970' and '1970 to present'.

Adding to the festivity of the street parade were the onlookers. From their vantage points they danced, sang and sought autographs from the artistes on the sound trucks.

For some, such as the Surgeons, it was a family treat. With her three children by her side, Ionie Surgeon explained that she liked what she saw, but bemoaned the turnout.

While his mother and sisters enjoyed the sight, little Nicholas Surgeon was not amused when the Grace Vienna Sausage mascot tried to embrace him. Fortunately for the furry mascot, other children along the way were more than happy to embrace him.

At the intersection between Tom Redcam Avenue and Arthur Wint Drive, a stone's throw from the Little Theatre, the late arrivals and those who followed the parade from Half-Way Tree, converged. There were multiple rows of people dressed predominantly in the colours of Jamaica. They too were basking in the festive mood generated from the parade.