Kingston, 28 July 2022 (JIS) - The scheduled activities for the main celebration period of Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee will run from Wednesday, July 27 until Sunday, August 7.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on July 26, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said the celebration of Jamaica 60 will follow the tradition of having a significant commemoration of Jamaica’s Independence every five years, with the aim of setting goals for the future.

“On one hand, we reflect and do a report card on our progress as a country. We see to what extent our goals were met, and on the other hand we use that celebration to set goals for the next five years, while finding opportunities to engage and motivate our people towards achieving our national objectives,” the Minister explained.

“So, the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee is time to reflect; it’s a time to redouble our efforts towards making Jamaica, land we love, a country of peace, harmony, equality, justice, liberty and prosperity. It is also a time to celebrate,” she added.

The upcoming scheduled activities are the opening of the Jamaica 60 Independence Village, National Indoor Sports Centre and finals of the Jamaica 60 Festival Song Competition, National Indoor Sports Centre on Thursday, July 28. The final of the Jamaica 60 Gospel Star Competition is slated for Saturday, July 30.

On Sunday, July 31, the Jamaica 60 Church Service will be held at the Boulevard Baptist Church, Emancipation Jubilee at the Seville Heritage Park, St Ann, and the Emancipation Watch Night in the Village and viewing of Seville Jubilee, National Indoor Sports Centre, will also be held on July 31.

On Monday, August 1, Jamaica 60 Independence Float and Street Parade will be held in the streets of Kingston, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Later that day, the Jamaica Festival Queen Coronation will be held at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

For Tuesday, August 2, Original Dancehall Stylee will be at the National Indoor Sports Centre, while on Wednesday, August 3, Mello-Go-Roun is also slated for the National Indoor Sports Centre.
 On Thursday, August 4, the Jamaica Praise Gospel Concert will be held at the National Indoor Sports Centre and on Friday, August 5, the Independence Watch Night in the Village will also be held at National Indoor Sports Centre.

For Saturday, August 6, the Jamaica 60 Grand Gala will be held at the National Stadium starting at 6:00 p.m. as well as Jamaica 60 Independence Street Dances islandwide.

The Jamaica 60 Western Gala, which will be held on Sunday, August 7 at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, Montego Bay, will culminate the events.

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