By Caribbean News Global contributor
GROS ISLET, St Lucia – Following much fantasizing and chatter not based on persuasive facts and driven with context to insinuate “Gros Islet Friday Night is going to happen. We are just going to ensure that it is done in a scaled-down manner,” the minister for youth development and sports, and member of parliament for Gros Islet,” relying on his youthful experience, comes the abrupt announcement on Facebook that “Friday Night has been rescheduled to next Friday, May 6, 2022.
The announcement was not a surprise, albeit the vernacular:
“Due to the unavailability of all the resources that are needed for the execution of the event this Friday, the reopening of Gros Islet Friday night has been rescheduled to next Friday, May 6, 2022,” wrote Kenson Casimir on Facebook.
On April 26, Caribbean News Global (CNG) published the article: ‘Gros Islet Friday Night – COVID19: An impending mixology’ and within minutes received a voice note to the contrary.
According to an insider with knowledge of procedures and know-how to hosting the event:
“ The minister has announced that the ‘Street Party’ is on but nobody seems to know what’s happening. We have not been informed/nor given instructions from institutions like the police, the chief medical officer (CMO), National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) – anybody – but it’s everywhere that ‘Street Party is on’. I have no clue/information on the event. I just hear it on the Radio and Television.’”
A secondary source familiar with the event noted: “Interesting! Let’s see!”
In both instances, reality has set in and conversely, Kenson Casimir Facebook post on April 27, opined:
“I have been in consultation with the president of the vendors association and he is satisfied with the new date as our government has pledged to continue to provide support to the execution of next week’s event. We look forward to a successful Gros Islet Friday Night reopening come next week May 6, 2022.”
Meanwhile, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 36 new cases of COVID-19, adding: “To date, a total of 53, 491 individuals have been fully vaccinated. Another 5, 331 are partially vaccinated and 7, 232 have received their booster shot.”
