Grange outlines plans for Jamaica’s 50th anniversary
By Sharon Gordon
Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Jamaica’s minister of youth, sports and culture met with the media, Jamaican nationals and friends at the Jamaican Consulate in New York City on Wednesday, July 27 and gave an overview of the plans for the year-long celebrations to mark Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence in 2012.
“Our golden moment is now,” said Grange of the Jamaica 50 celebrations, which also encompass the Diaspora residing in the UK, US and Canada under the theme, “Feel the heart and soul of a nation!”
The calendar of activities will be made available via the Jamaica 50 website. However, Grange said that this was only a “preview” of the plans. The official launch will take place in September, once the celebrations for the 49th anniversary of Independence are over.
Grange spoke about the nexus between sports and culture in Jamaica, she said, “Sports and Culture are at the core of the celebration.” There are plans for a meaningful presence at the 2012 Olympics in London where a Jamaica Village will be erected in the heart of London’s Finsbury Park.”
The activities are likely to kick off in January with fireworks on the waterfront, in Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio; there are also plans afoot for an Interfaith Ecumenical Service. Also on the calendar for January are special celebrations at the annual Accompong Maroon Festival and the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.
February is Reggae Month in Jamaica and with icons Bob Marley and Dennis Brown celebrating birthdays, there are activities planned to mark their musical contribution to the culture. Jamaica Day, February 24th coincides with the birthday of Sir Alexander Bustamante and will be celebrated with an island wide focus on the “out of many one people” motto. Flag Raising activities and a restorative and community justice week will also take place in February. For March there is the Boys and Girls Champs at the National Stadium as well as the State Opening of Parliament and a book fair. From April to June there a numerous activities planned including those by JAPEX and JCDC.
International Reggae Day would be celebrated on July 1 and July 4 will mark Norman Manley’s birthday. August will see a twenty day Jamaica Independence Festival Celebration, Emancipation Day festivities, the Independence Balls in Kingston and Montego Bay which will include Street Parades. The ground breaking scheduled to take place on August 17 for Marcus Garvey Park in St Ann’s on his birthday with a completion date of August 2012. The Denbigh Agriculture Show, an all island community sports day and many more activities for all age groups.
In September there are plans to celebrate Ms. Lou’s birthday on September 7 and in October, Heritage Week and Heroes Day. There is also the Golden Exhibition a project that will involve members of the Diaspora as well as Jamaicans at home. In November, there is Restaurant Week and Remembrance Day while in December, there will be the Reggae Marathon and the National Pantomime among several other activities with more firework display on the waterfront.
She also announced the proposed plans for the redevelopment of Hope Gardens and the renovation of Ward Theatre. Grange said that there has been a commitment from the King of Spain to help underwrite the transformation of Emancipation Square in Spanish Town. There are also plans to erect a Music and Sports Museum and a state of the art Performing Arts Centre.
Grange, reminded everyone gathered that “It was a work in progress, a very ambitious programme, which will be phased over a number of years.”
