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THE PNM hosted its pre-Independence event, For the Love of Liberty, outside City Hall, Knox Street, Port of Spain, on August 30, drawing a modest but colourful gathering on the perimeter of Woodford Square.

Though only a couple of hundred supporters formed a modest “sea of red,” the programme featured an array of cultural performances, reflecting the country’s diversity.

Diego Martin West MP Hans Des Vignes guided the evening, which included performances by members of Liberty Chorale, an African dance piece, and a youth calypso by Merkida Bentham. The Shiv Shakti Dance Group delivered East Indian dances, while Marva Newton presented a calypso medley. Allan Cardinal followed with a steelpan segment, Sean Daniel performed a “gospelypso” medley, and spoken-word artist Zakiya Gill drew on Dr Eric Williams’ 1962 Independence speech.