NEW YORK: The service hosted annually by the Jamaican Consulate in New York to mark the island’s anniversary of Independence will be held this Sunday, August 25, at 4:00 p.m. at the New Jerusalem Worship Centre in Jamaica, Queens.
The ceremony, a traditional highlight of Independence activities for Jamaicans living in the diaspora, will bring the curtains down on the nation’s 62nd anniversary celebrations. In her Independence address, Jamaica’s Consul General to New York, Alsion Wilson, said the celebration is not only “..
a reflection of our proud history, but also a reaffirmation of the values that unite us as a people. It reminds us of our responsibility to share the spirit of love, peace, and unity with the world.” The mass, largely regarded by the community as a time for thanksgiving, usually attracts a huge support from Jamaicans across the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Other highlighted activities across the diaspora included flag raising events, parties and Independence galas. Jamaican diplomats in the United States also marked the occasion with messages of hope and encouragement to their fellow Jamaicans. The Consul General said that the religious observance offers an opportunity for Jamaicans to pause and reflect on the country’s journey.
She remarked that in every sphere of life, whether academia, politics, business, and beyond first-, second-, and third-generation Jamaicans continue to make their mark, often citing their Jamai.