Stand Up For Justice, Peace And Unity ?Rev. Sophia Azan

Custos of St. Catherine, Rev. Sophia Azan, has called on Jamaicans to stand up for justice, peace and unity and to embrace the motto, ‘Out Of Many, One People’. “We need love, we need unity. We need to bridge this division that is happening in our nation. We need to tear it down if we are going to recognise what our forefathers did many many years ago,” Rev. Azan said.
She was speaking on Monday (October 13) at the 2003 St. Catherine Heritage Week launch and exhibition at the St. Catherine Parish Library in Spanish Town. The exhibition focused on the various ethnic communities in Jamaica and the national symbols.
The event was organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), in association with the St. Catherine Parish Library.
Rev. Azan said the National Heroes had made “many sacrifices” and had demonstrated concern and love for their fellowmen.
“They stood up for justice, brotherhood, peace and unity and they all gave selflessly, some their lives, for this blessed country Jamaica,” she added. She called on Jamaicans to “take up the mantle” from where their foreparents left off and to continue the work and struggles for the “upliftment and well being of citizens.”
Addressing the students, the Custos urged them to be role models among their peers and to strive for excellence.
“We are appalled at the behaviour today that we are seeing in our schools. You can make a difference. You may be the next hero that we read about in tomorrow’s paper,” she said.
The launch and exhibition is one of the many activities planned in observance of Heritage Week being celebrated under the theme, ‘Embracing Our Heritage.Out of Many, One People’.
On Wednesday, October 15, starting at 9:00 a.m. a floral tribute will be held at the Phillippo Baptist Church, Spanish Town, while on the following day, a panel discussion focusing on the theme will get under way at the lecture theatre at G.C Foster College in Spanish Town.
A Heritage Street Jamboree will take place on Saturday, October 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Emancipation Square in Spanish Town, while on the same day a cultural evening will be held at the Portmore Amphitheatre, starting at 5:00 p.m.On Heroes Day, October 20, civic and awards ceremonies will be held at the Portmore Mall Car Park starting at 9:00 a.m. and at the Emancipation Square starting at 3:00 p.m.
Attending the ceremony were Executive Director of JCDC, Marcia Hextall; Regional Manager, Eastern Region, JCDC, Dorrett Thaxter; Mayor of Spanish Town, Raymoth Notice; Chairman of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce, Rudolph Greene; employees of the St. Catherine Parish Council, members of the business community, students and teachers.