Jamaicans residing in Washington DC, Baltimore and Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate Jamaica’s 54th anniversary
By Derrick Scott
Washington, DC – Jamaicans residing in Washington DC, Baltimore and Atlanta, Georgia will attend several events planned to mark Jamaica’s 54 years of Independence.
The activities will commence on Emancipation Day, August 1 with the official launch of an art exhibition mounted by Jamaican Artist Michael Escoffery at the Jamaican embassy in Washington DC and will run through August 5th. The exhibition will be declared opened by Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Jamaica, Mrs. Marsha Coore-Lobban.
On Independence Day, August 6th, the Jamaica Association of Maryland (JAM) will stage its annual independence ball at Martin’s West in Baltimore, Maryland. Highlights will be the presentation of JAM’s Lifetime Achievement award in the field of Public Service to Jamaican-born Maryland State senator, Shirley Natham-Pulliam. The Marcus Garvey award will be presented to Jamaican Attorney, Mr. Franklin Burke.
On Sunday, August 7th, at 11 AM, the Embassy of Jamaica will host the annual Independence Thanksgiving Service at the Dumbarton Chapel, on the campus of Howard University School of Law. The guest preacher will be Professor of Ethics at Howard University School of Theology, Reverend Dr. Kortright Davis.
The message from Prime Minister, the Hon. Andrew Holness will be read by Mrs. Coore-Lobban, while Jamaica’s Alternate Representative to the Organization of American State (OAS) Mrs. Julia Hyatt and President of the JAM, Mr. Noel Godfrey will read the scripture lessons.
The service will be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, the DC Council as well as representatives from the United States Congress.
Over in Atlanta, the Jamaican community there will attend the Independence Thanksgiving service on Sunday, August 7 at 5PM at the Timothy United Methodist church. Associate Project Director at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, Dr. Christopher Parker will be the guest speaker. The Prime Minister’s message will be read by Jamaica’s Honorary Counsel to Atlanta, Mrs. Jewel Scott.
Curtains will come down on Atlanta’s independence activities on Saturday, August 13th with the staging of its annual independence ball at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel, commencing at 6PM and hosted by the Atlanta Jamaica Association (AJA). The guest speaker at the ball will be Mrs. Juliet Holness, wife of Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Hon Andrew Holness.
Independence activities in the DC – Baltimore region will end on Sunday, August 14 at 5PM when JAM will host its annual Independence Thanksgiving service at the Baltimore Central New Testament Church of God where the guest speaker will be the Bishop Stanley Murray.
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