Garmex Heart Academy Celebrates Jamaican Culture

KINGSTON — The HEART Trust/NTA's Garmex Academy came alive with the colours and sounds of Jamaica on October 28 as the facility celebrated its annual 'Culturama' event.

The day-long event, held at the institution’s Marcus Garvey Drive location in Kingston, saw students, clad in the Jamaican colours, participating in a number of activities showcasing the island’s culture and heritage.

Under the theme: ‘Back to wi Roots – From Slavery to Emancipation,’ it featured displays of authentic Jamaican foods, such as grater cake, gizzadas, and puddings, and traditional methods of preparing these items.

Senior Career Development Officer at the academy, Kay-Marie Forbes Robotham, told JIS News that trainees and staff members usually look forward to the “exciting event,” noting that it fosters team work, and encourages industriousness and dedication.

"We emphasise 'Culturama' every year because we believe that our trainees need to have that solid foundation as it relates to where they are coming from as a people, their roots, what their forefathers did for them, the luxury that they now enjoy – they need to understand how these things came about,” she said.

She explained that trainees are placed in groups, and will then be judged on their oral presentations on slavery, emancipation, post-emancipation and apprenticeship, as well as the booths they set up to depict aspects of each era.

Garmex Academy partnered with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and the Heart Trust Rockfort Regional Office to stage the event.

Culturama ended with a cultural concert featuring drumming, and performances of traditional songs and dance.

By Alecia Smith-Edwards, JIS Reporter