00:00In a statement to the media, Minority Leader Kelvin Morris said,
00:04The Independence Day parade is far more than a spectacle.
00:08It is a cherished symbol of national pride that unites us across race, creed and class.
00:16While we respect the value of a day of prayer, such an observance can be held on any other day without displacing this central tradition.
00:25Morris emphasized that there was no objection to the government's stance on fireworks, which has always sparked public debate.
00:33However, the parade remains the heart of our Independence Day celebrations, and its cancellation is a disservice to the many citizens who were eagerly anticipating it, he added.
00:46The Minority Leader also criticized what he described as inconsistent reasoning behind the cancellation.
00:52On one hand, the public is told that the nation is safe and freedoms remain secure.
00:59On the other hand, a tradition that embodies those very freedoms is being removed.
01:06This contradiction undermines confidence and sends the wrong message to all people, Morris stated.
01:12He concluded by urging the administration to reverse its decision, stressing that the Independence Day parade must be preserved as a proud national tradition.
01:24Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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