Roseau, Dominica – September 24, 2009……… Activities marking Dominica’s thirty-first Anniversary of Independence open this Saturday, September 26, 2009 with an official opening ceremony at the Old Mill Cultural Centre, beginning at 5.30pm.
The theme for this year’s Independence Celebrations is: “Celebrating Progress and Development”.
And in a break with established practice, the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving will take place very early in the programme of activities – on Saturday, September 26, 2009 and Sunday, September 27th 2009.
In moving the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving from the Sunday before November 3rd to the beginning of the Independence Celebrations, the Cabinet has acceded to a request made by the Dominica Christian Council.
Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Minister for Culture, Hon. Loreen Bannis-Roberts and Chief Cultural Officer, Mr. Raymond Lawrence are expected to deliver addresses at this Saturday’s curtain raiser – the opening of the 2009 Independence Celebrations. There will also be appearances and performances by some of Dominica’s famous artistes, performers as well as cultural groups.
For the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, Members of Cabinet will as usual attend church services in their constituencies and respective communities.
