Jamaicans Advised to Prepare for Heat at Grand Gala

With thousands expected to attend the annual Independence Grand Gala on August 6, Jamaicans are being advised to prepare for the hot weather conditions currently being experienced.

“We just want to encourage everybody coming to the Gala, walk with your water [and] hydrate from days before so that you can sustain [yourselves],” Executive Director, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Lenford Salmon, said during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the Agency’s head office in Kingston.

The Grand Gala will take place at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Mr. Salmon noted that while the sun will not be out at 5:30 p.m., at the start of the Gala, “it’s still [going to be] hot” and, as such, persons should take the necessary precautions.

“Come well hydrated. Come prepared for the heat… walk with your portable fan”, he emphasised, adding that there will also be vendors on site selling water.

Mr. Salmon informed that the hot weather has also impacted rehearsals for the show.

“Usually, we would have been rehearsing from 10:00 a.m. straight back [into the evening; however,] we have had to curtail that. Our rehearsals start now at 2:00 p.m. and we go up until about 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m., simply because we don’t believe we can keep the kids out in the sun for the entire day,” the Executive Director said.

The Grand Gala is the highlight of Jamaica’s 61st Independence anniversary, being celebrated under the theme ‘Jamaica 61… Proud and Strong’.

The event is free to the public.

However, persons must have a ticket to enter the National Stadium.

Individuals who do not have tickets may choose to view the Gala via a big screen that will be set up at the Independence Village next to the Stadium.

The show will also be live on television and streamed on social media platforms islandwide and globally.