5,000 Singaporeans celebrate SG50 with brisk walk around Marina Bay
SINGAPORE — Led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the mayors of Singapore’s five districts, some 5,000 residents, grassroots advisers, volunteers and beneficiaries, celebrated the republic’s 50th birthday this morning (May 31) in a community parade cum brisk walk at Marina Bay.
Flagging off at the floating platform, the 2.5km jaunt took participants through the bay area, passing by landmarks like the Esplanade, Merlion Park, Clifford Pier and the Fullerton Hotel. There was also a mobile display of five community programmes unique to each district, including North West district’s briskwalking club, North East’s community employment programme and South East’s community laboratory programme.
In a brief opening address, Mr Lee reminded participants of Marina Bay in the days before its development.
“Fifty years ago, this was water. Fifty years ago, around Marina Bay, there was no Marina South, no as Gardens by the Bay, there was no Marina Bay Sands...Now we have all these, let’s enjoy it, let’s work to make it better,” he said.
This is the first time that the five districts’ mayors have come together with the communities they developed over 18 years to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday.
