NEW YORK – Jamaican and Caribbean-American community leaders will join efforts to stage the Jamaica Independence Flag Raising Ceremony scheduled for 3 PM – 5 PM on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is home to one of the largest aggregations of Jamaicans outside of the island. According to the New York City Department of City Planning’s figures culled from the 2000 Census, there were 73, 580 Jamaican-born persons living in that borough. Scholars and policymakers have long recognized how immigrants from the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia have helped to stem population decline of the New York metropolitan region and to rejuvenate institutions and neighborhoods.
“It is imperative that we recognize the presence, needs and impact of one of the largest groupings of Jamaicans in the United States,” said Patrick Beckford, newly-elected NE USA representative to the Jamaica Diaspora Board. “Brooklyn and other New York boroughs have long-served as the first point of entry for many Jamaicans in the United States.”
Patrick Beckford
“A significant number of Jamaicans continue to live, work and play in Brooklyn, adding value to the social and economic landscape of the borough,” Beckford added. “Brooklyn’s Jamaican-Americans look forward to being a part of our island’s 46th independence celebration.”
Joining the NE USA Diaspora as co-sponsors of this event are Caribbean American Program for Empowerment CAPE-USA), Caribbean Cultural Theatre, Caribbean Immigrant Services Youth Core, Jamaica Impact, Inc. (JAMPACT), Sons and Daughters of Jamaica, and the Union of Jamaica Alumni Associations.
Jamaican-born Yvonne Graham, former Deputy Brooklyn Borough President and current Assistant to the Borough President, will join Borough President Marty Markowitz in welcoming Brooklynites and others to the celebration.
The celebration will also include a variety of historical and cultural presentations, with musical performance by reggae artist Ky-Enie, known for his singles “Rain” from Cess Silvera’s 2002 feature film Shottas and “Wings of An Angel.”
For information about the celebration, email the NE USA Diaspora at
[email protected].
