National Heroes Remembered At Church Service In Portland

To commemorate the life and work of the seven National Heroes, a church service was held at the Port Antonio Baptist Church in Portland, on October 17.
The event was organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Portland Office, as part of activities to celebrate Heritage Week, which was observed from October 10 to 18, under the theme: ‘I believe in Jamaica..Our people, Our land, Our Heritage’.
Speaking at the service, Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Floyd Patterson said that Jamaicans have a proud heritage, which incorporates “our songs, our food and our historical past.”
However, he lamented that “our culture is dying, so we need to revitalise it.as it is our heritage that stands out as a people.”
Congratulating the many hardworking Jamaicans, such as the police, for carrying out their duties, in spite of the challenges, he urged everyone to “emancipate ourselves, look back on the struggles of our forefathers, so that we can move forward. Let us remember our standards and stand up, so we can preserve our heritage.”
In his message, Pastor of the Port Antonio Baptist Church, Reverend Dayne Grant, challenged everyone to “be a real Jamaican, liberating others and remembering the poor.”
He urged Jamaicans to emulate the principles by which the National Heroes lived and served, and how they sought to free the oppressed. “They represented what true humanity should be,” Rev. Grant said.
Custos of Portland, Hon. Roy Thompson, read the Governor-General’s Heritage Week Message, while Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd, and Deputy Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Derron Wood brought greetings.
Also in attendance were members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Island Special Constabulary Force, Cadets and Heads of various government agencies in the parish.