Children from various government-run and private pre-schools and day care facilities took to the streets of Basseterre earlier today (24th June) for the event which normally attracts thousands of children, parents and early childhood personnel.
It began at Greenlands and worked its way eastward along Cayon Street, southward along Church Street and eventually flowed along Fort Street and east along Cayon Street before travelling down West Independence Square Street and culminating at the Independence Square.
The aim of the march is to generate interest amongst members of the public, in the early childhood sector and is also an avenue through which the youngest members of our society can are introduced to the public as the leader of tomorrow.
This year’s early childhood celebration theme is “Strong Families + Strong Communities + Strong Programmes = Well Rounded Children” and according to early childhood operatives, this year’s march was means of promoting this theme and ensuring that it resonates within the hearts and minds of the people of this country.
Drum corps including the Police Drum Corps and the Seventh Day Adventist Drum Corps as well as Pastor Phillip Webbe – who wrote and recorded this year’s theme song – and a hi-fi provided live entertainment for the marchers.
Minister of Education, Nigel Carty, participated in the march and told MiyVue.com that he deemed the march a success and indicated that increased support from the public has been noticed. He also expressed the view that the public is grasping the importance of early childhood in the development of St. Kitts Nevis.
“Over the years, we are seeing an increasing amount of participation from the public. One of the things that early childhood development unit was trying to do is to really find a way to express to the general public that our young people, particularly our youngest people, are of critically important in national development. Their education, the wellbeing, the physical and mental health and security, all of those are very important to the advancement of the country.
“What we are seeing in an increasing positive response to the call from the early childhood people by the wider community…When I look around and see, for example, mother and father working alongside one child, I think what this means also is that we have seen a response from the employers because if they were not facilitating, some of the parents would not have been able to be here. So I think this augers well for early childhood development.”