It was standing room only as Jamaicans and friends poured into Dumbarton Chapel at Howard University School of Law in Washington DC on Sunday, August 5 for the Service of Thanksgiving for their country’s 56th anniversary of independence. Organised by the Embassy of Jamaica, the annual church service was attended by members of the Jamaican communities in Washington DC, Maryland,...

Ten citizens of St. James were presented with the Spirit of Independence Award for outstanding contributions to the parish’s development, during Monday’s (August 6) Independence Day Civic Ceremony at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay. The awardees include Carlene Ricketts, for extraordinary service to education; philanthropist, Robert Blake, who is visually impaired, for outstanding contributions to community development; and General Manager...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, is encouraging Jamaicans to engender greater love of the family and community. She said that it is love of the immediate family that will prompt love of the community and, ultimately, country. Ms. Grange was speaking at Sunday’s (August 5) National Emancipation and Independence Thanksgiving Service at the Constant Spring...

Located about 10 miles north of Spanish Town, St. Catherine, is Jamaica’s first free village, Sligoville. The property was purchased by Baptist Minister and abolitionist, Rev. James Mursell Phillippo, who arrived in Jamaica in 1823. He campaigned for the abolition of slavery, which came in 1834, and for the establishment of free villages for the emancipated slaves. It was in...

As Jamaica marks 184 years since Emancipation and the 56th anniversary of Independence, Executive Director of the Institute of Jamaica (IoJ), Vivian Crawford, is highlighting the need for greater focus on the country’s rich heritage. He points out that there are important lessons to learn from how the ancestors lived and conducted themselves, including the social norms and values, which,...

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, says plans are in place to revive the country’s Culinary Arts Festival and Competition beginning next year. Introduced during the 1970s, the festival, which showcased the island’s rich culinary food and delights, was later discontinued after having been staged for a number of years. “It will now be resuscitated and have...

Mr. Patrick Campbell, wearing the Jamaican colours, views the ‘Yaadi Bites’ booth at the opening of Independence Village at the National Arena in Kingston on August 1. The Village, which will open daily to the public until August 6, features a number of family-friendly activities, including booth displays, food courts, lunch-hour concerts and a children’s village.