‘Jamaica 55’ Celebrations in the United States

Members of the Diaspora residing in the Washington DC metropolitan area, Atlanta and New York will celebrate ‘Jamaica 55’ with a number of activities from August 5 to August 13.

The events, organised by the Embassy of Jamaica under the leadership of Ambassador Audrey Marks, will be supported by Diaspora organisations.

Activities get underway with the Jamaica Association of Maryland’s annual Independence Gala and Marcus Garvey Award ceremony at the Martin’s West banquet hall in Baltimore.

The Dumbarton chapel at Howard University’s School of Law will be the venue for the annual service of thanksgiving on August 6 at 11: 00 a.m. Ambassador Audrey Marks will give the official welcome and deliver the Prime Minister’s message.

A special reception hosted by the Embassy of Jamaica will follow at the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarters where Jamaica’s songbird, Karen Smith, will be the featured performer.

On August 13, a service of thanksgiving will be held at the Baltimore Central New Testament Church of God at 5:00 p.m. to mark the 55^th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence. The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Stanley Murray.

In the Tri-State area, Jamaicans in New York will celebrate Independence at a thanksgiving church service and flag-raising ceremony at the Riverside Church on Riverside Drive in Manhattan. The Prime Minister’s message will be read by Consul General in New York, Trudy Deans, while the Rev. Canon Dr. Audley Donaldson will deliver the sermon.

Independence activities in New York will come to a close with a grand Independence Gala on August 26 at the New York Hilton Hotel in Manhattan.

Over in Atlanta, the Jamaican community will attend a thanksgiving and ecumenical church service at the Unity Atlanta church on August 6, starting at 5:00 p.m.

Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Atlanta, Jewel Scott will deliver the Prime Minister’s message. The Rev.  Horace Ward, pastor of the Church of the Holy Family in Miami Gardens, will deliver the sermon.

On August 10, a cultural concert hosted by the Union of Jamaica Organization in Atlanta will take place at the South Dekalb High School starting at 7:00 p.m.

Independence activities in Atlanta culminate on August 12, when the Atlanta Jamaica Association will stage its annual Independence Ball and Scholarship Awards at the Sheraton hotel in downtown Atlanta.