Thousands of people armed with umbrellas against yesterday's capricious weather lined Hamilton's streets for the annual Bermuda Day Parade.

The colourful fiesta atmosphere of one of Bermuda's best loved holidays drew hordes of Bermudians and visitors alike who joined in activities in celebration of Bermuda's cultural heritage.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan hailed May 24 as a day of unity at the official opening ceremony at Barnard Park.

"More and more it is a day when insularity is non-existent and in that we can see unity,'' he told crowds.

But the theme of Independence dominated the Premier's remarks in which he claimed that by next May Bermuda could be on a path to Independence.

Ignoring this year's global environmental theme, the Premier instead struck out at anti-Independence Bermudians who he accused of "quietly resisting the whole concept of Bermudianisation''.

"If you want to find who built the glass ceiling, look no further,'' he said, adding that the departure of the British and Canadians forces, the pending departure of the US Navy and the Independence referendum in August made 1995 a "monumental year for Bermuda''.

And he warned Bermudians not to squander the "golden opportunity'' for Independence -- an opportunity which might not come again for many years. "As we celebrate the heritage of our past, we must consider, as we never have before, what type of future we want for ourselves and our children,'' he said.

"It is time to from Page 1 take stock of ourselves and decide what type of future we should have.'' But Bermudians appeared more concerned with having a good time yesterday in spite of light rain interspersed with hot sunny intervals. The colourful crowds of people and umbrellas rivalled the floats and the bright costumes of baton-twirling majorettes in the parade.

Well before the scheduled start of the parade, spectators were ready and waiting with chairs, coolers and tables set up alongside the route that stretched from Bull's Head car park along Front, Court and Church Streets to Cedar Avenue and Bernard Park.

For more than three hours the eclectic parade of horsemen, floats, dancers, gospel singers and majorettes strutted their stuff before cheering crowds that thickly lined pavements all along the route.

Miss Unique Bermuda was one of the first to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage followed by the Bermuda junior riders and an assortment of cowboys, Indians and a saxophone-wielding gombey on horseback.

Members of the Bermuda Portuguese Cultural Association brought with them a European flavour as women in red skirts and tight bodices and men in red waistcoats danced to traditional Azorean tunes.

Following them the Empress Menem Dancers with the Freedom Drummers and Atlantis Drumming Ensemble dressed in African costume, impressed spectators with their energy and rhythm.

This year's floats sported strong ecological themes. The War Veterans Association, which won best club and most beautiful prizes for its float, displayed a rotating globe and the words, `Save the Children'.

But it was the majorettes that dominated the day with hundreds of girls in short skirts from different clubs twirling batons and shaking poms poms with vigour.

Visitors, many watching from the decks of cruise ships berthed along Front Street deemed the spectacle "terrific'' but long-time parade-goers complained about the long periods of waiting between floats.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro, David Skinner and Tamell Simons ONE MAN AND HIS HORSE -- John Flood in the saddle for the Heritage Day parade.

DANCING UP A STORM -- The Empress Menem Dancers strut their stuff for the appreciative crowds on Front Street.

ALUMINIUM CAN MAN -- Batting on a recycled wicket proved a big hit with parade judges.

WINGED WALKER -- One of the many colourful costumes which brightened up a dull day yesterday.

MERRY MASKED MAN -- This fearsome figure fired the imagination of young parade-goers.

THUMBS-UP! -- Two-year-old Jenna Butterfield enjoys the festivities.

LET ME JOIN IN! -- Kelechi Jones (2) is keen to join in the fun.