Defending Road March King, Lavaman, is among several artistes who will be performing at this weekend’s St. George’s Parish Day, which forms part of the 2012 Independence celebrations. The all-day event will be held on Sunday, January 29, on the Carenage. It begins with a cycle race, starting 9 am at Maurice Bishop International Airport, and finishing on the Carenage. The morning segment of the Parish Day will feature cycling and other sporting events such as water polo, cricket, basketball and small-goal football. Medals and trophies will be awarded to winners. Parish Days are being held nationwide as part of the “Prime Minister’s Best Village Competition’’ for this year’s 38th Anniversary of Independence. The competition includes judging of villages in three categories: environment, culture and the cooking of Oil Down. About a dozen villages across St. George’s are participating in all three aspects of the competition. The environment segment, involving such things as the painting of murals, tree planting and floral arrangements – will take place on Saturday, January 28. “This year, we have urged villagers to be more creative in the use of paint and avoid painting such things as trees,’’ said an official of the National Celebrations Committee, which has overall responsibility for the Best Village Competition. “We are grateful to L.L. Ramdhanny and Harris Paints, and also George F. Huggins and Berger Paints, for their kind donation of paint for use by the villages.’’ Competition in St. George’s for both the Oil Down cooking and culture will be judged Sunday afternoon on the Carenage. Lavaman and other prominent local performers are not competing but will be appearing as guest artistes. “I am happy to do this as my contribution to the celebration of Grenada’s 38th anniversary of Independence,’’ said Lavaman, who won the 2011 Lucozade King of the Road title with the hit, “So We Dey.’’ He’s preparing for the 2012 carnival season and is also producing a series of entertainment shows, called “Diva Top 10,’’ which will soon be shown on local television. The theme for the 38th anniversary of Independence is: “Breaking All Barriers, Striving for Greater Achievements Under One Flag’’. During Sunday’s event on the Carenage, there will also be vending and the exhibition of arts and crafts. For more information on the St. George’s Parish Day, interested persons can contact the Grenada Cultural Foundation at 435-5869 or 435-2839. They can also call speak to one of the youth coordinators at 420-0753, 534-8213 or 416-4384. Grenada’s Independence Day is Tuesday, February 7.