Montego Bay — It will cost roughly $1.5 million to stage the celebrations that will mark Montego Bay’s twenty-first year as a city, according to the city’s deputy mayor, Gerard Mitchell.

According to him, the cost could have been higher if the St James Parish Council had not postponed the Mayor’s Ball originally planned as part of the week of activities.

“We decided to postpone the Ball until New Year’s Eve, taking into consideration the economic fallout right now (as a result of the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States),” he told the Observer. “We didn’t think it was the best time for that to be held.”

The activities, which will take place from October 6 to 15, will begin with the Miss City of Montego Bay pageant at Caribbean Showplace. Other activities include:

* a church service at the Mount Salem Open Bible Church and a football match at Jarrett Park on day two,

* an October 8 Atlanta Health Fair at the St John’s Methodist Church and MoBay Nite Out on the Hip Strip,

* a re-enactment of Proclamation Day at Sam Sharpe Square on October 9,

* a Junior Council competition and cultural extravaganza at the Civic Centre on October 10 and 11 respectively,

* a basketball match on October 12,

* a cycle race and an information fair on October 14.

The celebrations will culminate, on Heroes Day, with a domino tournament at Coral Cliff, a Heroes Day Civic Ceremony and a gospel and reggae concert in Sam Sharpe Square.

“This year has to be a celebration with a difference because we are 21 (the age of adulthood),” the deputy mayor said. “A number of infrastructural upgrading projects we have long been awaiting will be completed, and we think we have something to celebrate. It will be a collaborative effort between everyone and a chance to really showcase Montego Bay.”