56 years of the Jamaican spirit

Since 1962, when Union Jacks were lowered and the Jamaican national flag flown for the first time, this land of wood and water – one we love – has been quite the performer on the global stage. At 56 years old, our nation is recognised as the home of trendsetters in areas such as sports, music, fashion and food, and this is simply no ordinary feat.

Like other countries, we will never overlook that we have our difficulties. That is inevitable. However, in spite of it all, it must also be said that there is a spirit of nationhood that exists in all Jamaicans. This is the spirit that draws us to Half-Way Tree Square whenever our athletes are on show; the same spirit that had left every household with two less pot covers when songbird Tessanne Chin tugged at our heartstrings in 2013.

We are proud of our little island home, truly ‘tallawah’ in its lush, green splendour and unending human resource. This Independence season calls for reflection; it is a time when we play Cherry Oh Baby until even the babies can sing along, and a time when we appreciate our Jamaican roots and identity. Join us on these pages as we recount those moments that had made us all smile over the years, the ones that elevated us as a people to the next level, and the ones that will remain every grandma’s favorite ‘story time’ memory. Gather ‘round and let us celebrate the ‘Best of Independence’ in true Jamaican spirit!