On August 6, 1962 Jamaica celebrated its independence from British rule. Since then, the small island nation of barely three million people has cemented its name in the Caribbean region and around the world with many significant historic events. Here are the top ten Jamaican historic moments since the country’s independence.
1965 – Martin Luther King Jr. Visits Jamaica
Dr Martin Luther King Jr Visit Jamaica June 1965
Civil rights leader, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta, landed in Jamaica on Sunday, June 20, 1965. Dr. King’s visit led him to the grounds of the University of the West Indies where the graduates and a huge audience filed into the Assembly Hall to hear him deliver the valedictory speech. His speech entitled, “Facing the Challenge of a New Age” reminded listeners of the necessity of resisting injustice with displays of love. He spoke of the increasing need for worldwide brotherly love, especially in societies that were now free from colonial rule.
1966 – Emperor Haile Selassie I Visits Jamaica
Emperor Haile Selassie I – Photo via Wikipedia
An exciting and memorable event not only in Jamaican history but in the history of Rastafarians was Thursday, April 21, 1966 when Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica. His visit was highly anticipated by an estimated 100,000 Rastafarians who greeted him with the playing of drums and sounded abeng horns. The Gleaner reported that the Emperor rewarded members of the Rastafarian community with gold medallions bearing the Ethiopian seal, while some Jamaican politicians received miniature coffin-shaped cigarette boxes.
1988 – Reggae Boyz World Cup Qualification
The Reggae Boyz
Jamaica’s national football team, known locally as the Reggae Boyz, made history as the first Jamaican to qualify for the World Cup in France 1988. Led by Brazilian coach Rene Simoes, the Reggae Boyz took the title of the first English speaking Caribbean country to qualify for World Cup soccer finals. They played three games, losing two and winning the final match against Japan. The team finished 22nd out of 32 teams.
1988 – Hurricane Gilbert Strikes
On September 12, 1988, Hurricane Gilbert struck the island leaving devastation so widespread that it is still remembered as one of the most destructive storms to ever hit Jamaica. The Category 5 hurricane left damage estimated at $4 billion, and 45 persons lost their lives. More than 800,000 persons had to seek shelter and the parishes St Thomas, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew were placed under a state of emergency for one month.
1988 – National Bobsled Team
Jamaican Bobsled team
The historic achievement of Jamaica’s national bobsled team is immortalized in the 1993 movie Cool Runnings. The team made their debut appearance as the first tropical team competing in a cold-weather sport at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics in Canada. Though they lost control of the sled and did not finish the race, the team of Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes, Freddy Powell, Michael White and Chris Stokes gained popularity quickly and was supported by many of the other nations.
1991 – Nelson Mandela’s Visit
Nelson Mandela in Jamaica – Photo Source JIS
After being imprisoned for 27 years, Jamaica was one of few countries visited by then President of South Arica, Nelson Mandela and his wife Winnie Mandela. On July 24, 1991, a multitude of Jamaicans crowded the streets of Kingston to catch a glimpse of the renowned freedom fighter. The Mandela Park in Half-Way Tree and the Mandela Highway in St. Catherine were named in his honour.
1993 – Lisa Hanna Claims Miss World’s Crown
Lisa Hanna Miss World 1993
Jamaica’s Lisa Hanna captivated the world with her beauty and intelligence when she was crowned Miss World at the 43rd edition of the annual pageant on November 27, 1993 in Sun City, South Africa. Miss Hanna’s victory made her the 3rd Jamaican to successfully gain the crown in the pageant, after Carole Crawford (1963) and Cindy Breakspeare (1976). Lisa Hanna was also the first titleholder of Miss World to receive the Queen of the Caribbean Award.
2006 – Jamaica Appoints Female Prime Minister
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller
The Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller became Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister on March 31, 2006. She served as Jamaica’s seventh Prime Minister until September 10, 2007 and received the Order of the Nation during that period. She was re-elected on December 29, 2011 and installed as Prime Minister on January 5, 2012. Prior to that, she served for 17 years as a cabinet minister with various portfolio responsibilities including Labour and Social Security, Tourism, Local Government, Community Development and Sport.
2008 – Usain Bolt Breaks Three World Records
Within just one week, Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt moved from an inexperienced sprinter to being the first man to hold the world records for both the 100m and 200m. At the Beijng Games in 2008, the sprinter made a record-breaking run of 9.69 seconds in the 100m race. A few days after, Bolt made another spectacular run of 19.30 seconds in the 200m race, before going on to break a third world record as the anchor leg runner in Jamaica’s 4×1 relay team.
2015 – US President, Barack Obama Visits Jamaica
President at Bob Marley Museum in an unscheduled night visit – Photo by Marlon Hill
On April 9, 2015, the much anticipated wait for the visit of United States President Barack Obama was fulfilled. President Obama met with youth leaders at the University of the West Indies where he announced a US$70 million development programme for Caribbean and Latin American youth. The President also visited the National Heroes Park where he paid tribute to Jamaicans who died in World Wars I and II, and made a brief stop at the Bob Marley Museum, the former home of the famed reggae legend of whom President Obama is said to be a fan.
