Students of Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School spent Monday morning rehearsing the welcome they will give President Jeffrey Bostic when he visits on Tuesday as part of his ongoing island-wide school tour.
Class Four students lined the path leading to the school’s “parade square”, practising the precise movements they will perform when the President arrives, while uniformed groups prepared for a short march and formal inspection.
Parent aid and Cub Scout leader Jefferson Greenidge, who has been coordinating the ceremonial arrangements, explained that the rehearsal was designed to ensure the students understand exactly how to conduct themselves.
“First I started with the Cub Scouts and the Brownies. I had them line the way to when the president was coming in,” he said. “But then I was given a suggestion that I should use the Class Four children.”
With the new plan, the Class Four students will form a corridor along the route to the square, waving small Barbadian flags as the President passes by in the car.
“As the president passes, they would wave the flag, and when he passed they would go back at attention. I will give the command to them, when to stand at attention and when to stand at ease.”
The ceremonial arrival will also involve two Cub Scouts playing an important role at the entrance to the main building.
“My two boys, two Cub Scouts, will open the door, which is Teshon Holder and Jarelle Lecock-Wilson,” he said. “As they open the doors, they will salute as well.”
Once inside the parade square, the President is expected to inspect the uniformed youth groups assembled in formation.
“He will come down to the ranks which are the Blossoms, the Beavers and the Brownies and Cub Scouts,” Greenidge said, noting that some of the younger groups will be combined because of their numbers.
To ensure the inspection follows proper ceremonial protocol, the students will assemble in three ranks, a formation commonly used in parades.
Greenidge said, “Whenever there is a parade you always stay in three ranks, which is a parade dressing.”
For the rehearsal, students marched from the upper part of the compound down to the parade square, where markers will be placed to guide them into position.
“They are going to march right down to the square,” he said. “We form up there and they march on down to the square in the three ranks.”
Greenidge also stressed that presentation and discipline will be essential when the President arrives.
“The preparedness in general, make sure to have everything,” he said. “Make sure the uniform is neat and tidy. The boys that need haircuts get their haircuts properly, the girls get their hair well groomed.”
He also advised the students to arrive early and remain composed on the morning of the visit.
“I don’t want them to run around when they get here in the morning,” he said. “Try to get here as early as possible.” This is due to the pre-rehearsal before the visit.
The Blossoms and Beavers from Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School will also participate in the ceremony, joining the Grantley Prescod students for the inspection on the parade square.
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