Thousands Attend Emancipation Jubilees in the West

Thousands of persons from St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, turned out last night (July 31), for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) organized Emancipation Jubilees, held in Sam Sharpe Square, Bustamante Square and Norman Square, respectively.
In all three parishes, the jubilees were held in collaboration with the respective Parish Councils.
There was a civic aspect to the events, as messages were read from the Prime Minister, the Governor-General and the Leader of the Opposition. The respective Mayors also delivered personal messages of encouragement, values and attitudes, hope and the benefits of brotherly love.
Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Bertel Moore, appealed to residents of Westmoreland to celebrate in love, adding that this is the only way that the parish, and by extension the nation, could eradicate the scourge of crime and violence.
In Hanover, Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Lloyd Hill, called for a full recognition by all, of the true meaning and value of Emancipation and Independence, and for total respect to always be shown to those persons who have contributed to nation building.
At Sam Sharpe Square in St. James, a wreath was laid at the monument, which commemorates the 600 slaves who were killed in the Sam Sharpe-led war which began in Kensington in 1831. A direct descendant of National Hero, Paul Bogle, Dr. Jenese, Evans was on hand to lay the wreath.
With the cultural and other activities taking place up until a few minutes before midnight in all three parishes, on the stroke of midnight the Emancipation Proclamation was read by the respective Custodes.