JCDC to Stage Activities Island-Wide for Heritage Week

Heritage Week 2008, will be celebrated from October 12 to 20, under the theme: ‘Saluting Our Heritage.Building Our Nation’.
Speaking with JIS News, Field Services Director, at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Delroy Gordon, noted that the theme “encapsulates that focus and concept of looking back as we establish the foundation to move forward.”
“We are going to be focussing on our heritage as we seek to find that grounding that is necessary as a nation for us to build on,” Mr. Gordon added.
To celebrate the week, the JCDC has put together a comprehensive schedule of activities for the entire island.
The week will commence with the parish thanksgiving services, which are organised in conjunction with the ministers fraternal of the parishes, as well as the municipal authority and will include various Christian denominations. Mr. Gordon pointed out that services that are not held on October 12 will be staged on Sunday, October 19.
Other activities will include expositions, displays of antique items and artefacts that speak to the country’s heritage, as well as parish debating competitions and quizzes.
Common to all parishes, the Field Services Director highlighted, will be the staging of ‘Heroes Day Salute’, which is a special ceremony in salute to the national heroes, held in each parish capital.
The event, which will take place on October 20, will include the presentation of certificates and plaques to local unsung heroes.
The day’s proceedings will close with the annual floral and cultural tribute, to salute the national heroes at the National Heroes Park beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Other activities will include a National Heroes Summit, at the Open Bible Church in Spanish Town on October 16.
At the summit, Mr. Gordon explained, schools that have done research on designated national heroes will be presenting their findings in an artistic format, using drama, music and speech.
On October 23, the Haven of Hope Open Bible Church in Kingston, will host a Culture Clash, which is an exposition and competition in the various art forms, including culinary and performing arts.
Mr. Gordon pointed out that, “in paying tribute to our national heroes and focussing on an entire week to celebrate our heritage, provides the opportunity for us to be educated and to reminisce on the past so we can be far more appreciative of the things that we now inherit and enjoy.”
He added that by highlighting heritage, “we will be able to identify where we are coming from and as a result, have a guide to determine where we want to go.”