By Admin. Updated 3:57 p.m., Sunday, November 1, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The No. 23 Ranger Guides Unit marked Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ 47th Anniversary of Independence with a cook-off and a turn on parade at Arnos Vale.
The celebrations began on Friday, 23 October, at the Girls’ High School, Arnos Vale, where the Rangers held an Independence Cook-Off. The challenge was to celebrate local heritage through food in a creative and innovative way.
The young women were split into ten groups. Each team had to come up with a restaurant name and design a fully priced menu, with an appetiser, a main course, a dessert and a signature drink.
Working against the clock, the teams paired traditional staples such as breadfruit, callaloo and plantain with modern touches. The contest was so close that only a single point separated first and second place.
Team 7 took the top prize with 102 points. Their menu opened with a creamy callaloo soup topped with crispy fried breadfruit chips. For the main course, they served soft mashed breadfruit, steamed vegetables, fried plantain and fried fish in gravy. They added a citrusy “Blue Independence Lemonade” and finished with golden coconut fritters and vanilla ice cream.
Second place went to Team 6, Soufrière Flames, with 101 points. They served callaloo soup shots, dumpling slices with saltfish and a golden apple mimosa, followed by plantain fritters with Independence ice cream.
Two teams tied for third with 98 points each. Team 2, 7-Ate-4, offered cheesy bakes churros with a passion fruit jelly dip, coconut rice with Creole-glazed chicken and mango salsa, a pink kiwi lemonade and banana fritter ice cream sandwiches. Team 3, Island Eats, served saltfish cakes, stuffed plantain “canoes” and fresh orange juice. They closed with a local banana flambé.
Four days later, on Independence Day, 27 October, the Rangers moved from the kitchen to Arnos Vale Stadium for the national parade.
The members assembled at 2:30 p.m. Eight members of the unit took part. Six marched with the contingent, and two led the Girl Guides.
The Rangers on parade were Zion Lewis, Kassidy Thomas, Haley Mc Dowall, Akilah Gill, Akayda John, Anicia De Roché, Yachne Browne and Shania Williams.
Through the cook-off and the parade, the unit showed both creativity and a strong sense of civic duty. Publications Officer Camella Harry said the Rangers proved that the future of the nation is “bright, capable, and deeply rooted in national pride”.
Information supplied by Camella Harry, Publications Officer, No. 23 Ranger Guides Unit.
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