The activities marking “Gros Islet Day” with the town’s annual Carnival as one of the main events, is a celebration that is dear to the northernmost community in Saint Lucia. It was on August 5, 1985 that Gros Islet was elevated from a village to a town. And now 34 years on, Gros Islet continues to celebrate its rich cultural history as well as its contribution to tourism, sports, fishing and so much more, with the annual Gros Islet Day celebrations.
This year the celebrations started last Thursday (Emancipation Day) and expected to last for 18 days. The town will usher in two recent achievements which will form part of the celebrations. First, during the National Junior Carnival, Gros Islet Junior Carnival band won the band of the year title. Then, two weeks ago the new state of the art Gros Islet Human Resource Development Center, was formally opened.
The celebrations began with a family day of fun sports at the Gros Islet playing field and ended with the town’s awards ceremony, the “Lilet Awards” at the Gros Islet Human Resource Development Center.
Last night was the traditional Gros Islet Friday Night where live entertainment was provided as locals and visitors converge for the grand celebration leading into J’ouvert from 4 am today. The parade of the bands begins later today. Five costumed bands are expected to parade through the town, as well as the winning national junior carnival band.
Tomorrow residents and well-wishers will gather at the St. Joseph the Worker Church for a thanksgiving service.
On August 5, a debate on the topic “should more emphasis be placed on agriculture and less on tourism,” will be held. This debate will be between the Gros Islet North and Gros Islet South Youth and Sports Councils at the Gros Islet Human Resource Development Center and is open to the general public.
August 11, will see several teams participating in the grand “soccerama” at the Gros Islet Multi-purpose court.
The curtains come down on the celebrations on August 18, 2019 with the crowning of a new Queen of Gros Islet. The Queen of Gros Islet pageant, which will feature five contestants from various communities within the town, will be held at the Gros Islet Human Resource Development Center.