Maturity has been a long time in coming on this journey which began on August 6, 1962, yet our people remain committed to unity and shall overcome all the many challenges which remain in the way. You are invited to join the fun and festivities across the entire Jamaican community while celebrating Jamaica’s forty first (41) Independence. Happy Birthday to the entire Jamaican Family.
Events across the world.
Jamaica
August Fair & Jamaica Night – Friday August 1, 2003 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Kingston, Jamaica.12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Mello Go Roun’ – Saturday, August 2, 2003 Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre – Kingston, Jamaica Adult $500 pre-sold $600 at the gate. Children $200
8:00 p.m. National Marching Band Display – Tuesday, August 5
Float Parade – Wednesday, August 6 in the streets of Kingston 11:00 a.m.
Festival Train – Sunday-Wednesday, August 3 – 6,2003 Falmouth, St. Anns Bay, Port Maria, Port Antonio, Morant Bay, Spanish Town, May Pen, Mandeville,Santa Cruz, Savanna-la-Mar, Lucea, Montego Bay.
Fisherman’s Regatta – Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at Paggee Beach, St. Mary
Canada
August 9, Jamaica Canadian Association (JCA), Independence Dinner and Dance, JCA Community Centre- Hall & Lounge.
Toronto – Saturday July 26th Join CDL / VR Members with the Jamaican community at Eglinton & Blackcreek – in the Park!
Montreal – Saturday July 26th – Join CDL Members with the Jamaican Association Montreal at Van Horne Park from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm -Jamaica day in the Park!! Big Dance to follow. Blazers also host a Dance at 5201 DeCaire Blvd.
Ottawa – Sunday August 3rd – Independence Church Service, St. George’s Anglican Church, 152 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa at 4:00 pm. Reception to follow. Call 613-523-9085 for information.
Ottawa – Saturday August 9th – Community Picnic & Family Fun Day from 10:00 am to 5 pm, Vincent Massey Park . Call 613-523-9085 for information.
Ottawa – Saturday August 9th – Independence Dance with David SuperSound & WallyB. From 9:00 pm. Ottawa Curling Club, 440 O’Connor Street. 613-523-9085 for tickets.
England
Manchester UK – Saturday August 9th
The Jamaica Society Manchester will be holding a dinner and dance to celebrate its 40th birthday and 41 years of Jamaican independence at New Century House, Corporation Street, City Centre, from 7 pm to 2 am. Tickets cost £35, including dinner and entertainment from comedian Tony Hendricks. For more information, please contact Maureen on 0161 345
Gloucester UK – Saturday 2 August 2003
DANCEHALL SPLURT at the Jamaican Sports & Social Club, Eastern Ave, Gloucester.
Saturday 9 August 2003
Jamaican Independence Celebrations at the Jamaican Sports & Social Club, Eastern Avenue, Gloucester.
Wandsworth UK -Sun 3rd August 2003
Jamaica Fun Day
Tooting Bec Common
South Florida
More than 400,000 Jamaicans in South Florida are expected to take part in Jamaica’s 41st anniversary of independence celebrations this year.
Several events have been planned by community organizations throughout tri-county Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Two annual Independence Balls will be held simultaneously on Saturday, July 26. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, will be guest speaker at the Grand Independence Ball to be held at the Renaissance Hotel, in downtown Miami.
Jamaica United Relief Association (JURA) and Members Only Social Club of Miami will host the premiere Independence Ball to be held at the Signature Grand in Davie. The Fab Five Band will provide entertainment.
The fifth annual Culturama Concert returns to Miami with an added show in Tampa. Billed as Culturama 2003, this event is a showcase of various Jamaican traditional and folk art forms that include dance, song and drama.
The show will begin on Friday, August 1, at the Special Events Centre at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The next performances are at the North Miami Beach Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, August 2 and the Coral Springs Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, August 3.
Culturama 2003 is hosted by South Florida based Jamaica Awareness, Inc. and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).
On Independence Day (August 6), the Mayor of Broward, Diane Wasserman-Rubin, will host a prayer breakfast declaring that day, ‘Jamaica Day’ in Broward County.
Church services will bring communities together, as several congregations will host services of celebration. The Consulate General of Jamaica, Miami office will host the annual Ecumenical Service to be held at the Trinity Cathedral in downtown Miami, on Sunday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. The Rev. Gerry Gallimore of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Davie, South Florida, will be the guest preacher at this event. As is customary, recitals are expected from the Jamaica Independence Choir, made up of choristers of several Jamaican congregations in the South Florida communities.
The Alpha Alumni Association in South Florida hosts an Independence luncheon on Sunday, August 3 at the McCarthy Centre, St. Timothy’s Church in Miami.
The Jamaican/American Association of Central Florida will host a banquet on Saturday, August 9 at the Wyndham Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
The Caribbean American Cultural Group will also host a Thanksgiving Service in observance of the 41st Independence celebrations at Sunlight Community Church at 477 SW Cashmere Blvd., in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, August 10 at 2:30 p.m.
New York
Independence 41, will be celebrated in grand style at the Hilton Hotel and Towers on August 16, 2003. This is a black tie affair and is sponsored by the Consulate-General of Jamaica, Air Jamaica Limited, and the Jamaica Tourist Board, in collaboration with the Jamaica Independence Anniversary Committee. This year’s guest of honour will be the Honorable K.D. Knight, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
In commemoration of Jamaica’s 41st Anniversary as an independent country, the Consulate-General of Jamaica will hold its National Independence Church Service on Sunday, August 3, 2003 at 4 p.m. sharp at the Riverside Church in Manhattan.
Thanksgiving Service will be delivered by the Reverend Canon Weeville Gordon, Custos of Kingston and former Rector of St. Matthew’s Church in Allman Town, Jamaica.
Riverside Church is located at 490 Riverside Drive, Manhattan. For additional information, please contact the Consulate-General of Jamaica at 212-925-9000.
California
Jamaica Association of Notheran California (JANC), Jamaican Independence Celebration, Saturday, August 16, 2003, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Pleasanton, California. Guest speaker, Minister of Tourism Aloum Ndombe Assamba. Cocktails 6:00 pm – Dinner 7: 30 pm. Admission $60 US. More info http://www.janc.org/
