“Out Of Many One People” Independence Celebrations August 6th, 2004 – New York

jamroppo, in association with Body Essentials Day Spa & Ayurvedic Center, presents a celebration “Out Of Many One People.” The event will be a salute to the 42nd anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence with guest speaker, Yvonne Coke of the non-profit organization, Hands Across Jamaica. It will be held on Friday, August 6, 2004, at The Harvest Room, 90-40 160th Street, Jamaica, Queens, NY 11432. The theme of the event is a celebration of freedom for all Caribbean people, with the focus on Jamaica.

The “Out Of Many One People” Independence celebrations feature a night of mouth-watering Jamaican cuisine, live music and cultural presentations. The live music will be courtesy of New Kingston Band, sons of well-known Jamaican musician, Courtney Panton. A dramatic recital of Caribbean folklore will be provided by E. Wayne McDonald & Friends of the Caribbean Cultural Theater. A cultural fare of drumming will be presented by Jeremiah of Iremiah. There will be dancing to the sounds of DJ Jules as he plays the latest in reggae, calypso, soca, R&B and hip-hop. The most “up-to-the-times, up-to-the-minute” dance moves from Jamaica will be demonstrated – “fan dem off, elbow dem, scooby doo and jiggy”.

“Nyamings” with food supplied by a team of Jamaican chefs, notably, Chef Garfield of Genesis fame and Mark Kong Quee, Chef Extraodinaire, will take place between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. An open bar runs from 7 p.m. to midnight. The Harvest Room, a well-kept secret in Queens is ideally located at 90-40 160th Street with ample parking available. It is within close proximity to the E, J, and Z trains at the Jamaica Avenue station and close to the Long Island Railroad one subway station away at Suthphin Boulevard. It provides an indoor and an outdoor setting for those who would like to bask in the warmth of an August summer evening.

The guest speaker is Yvonne O. Coke, President/International Coordinator for Hands Across Jamaica For Righteousness. Their mission statement is to promote the National Motto, Anthem, and Pledge of Jamaica as a way of life, until every Jamaican is made fully aware and takes ownership of the full potential of the Godly inheritance of “beauty, fellowship and prosperity” contained in them, and move to fulfill Jamaica’s mandate to “advance the welfare of the whole human race.”

Patrons will also get the opportunity of winning the grand prize for either a male or female from Body Essentials Day Spa & Ayurvedic Center. The winner will enjoy The Essential Body Smoother, an aromatic massage and steam, followed by a scintillating body scrub, coconut milk slather and cucumber honey mini-facial. Body Essentials Day Spa, a full-service day spa and Ayurvedic center is located in midtown, Manhattan. Tickets for the “Out Of Many One People” Independence celebrations are $60.00 per adult and $30.00 per child, and can be purchased by calling jamroppo at 718-291-2644 or e-mail [email protected].

jamroppo is an exciting, unique and innovative concept that celebrates Jamaica’s rich and eclectic culture. It is the brainchild of Cathy Kleinhans. The winner of The Best Personality and The Best Smile awards in the Miss Jamaica (World) 1983 contest, Cathy Kleinhans, was asked the question then by the chief judge of the contest, Hector Wynter, “How would you sell Jamaica?” Kleinhans has been selling Jamaica for over 20 years. She especially enjoyed the great interaction with people from all over the world during her position as public relations manager at Sandals Montego Bay. She went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Television Production at New York Institute of Technology having completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Communications at University of The West Indies at the Caribbean Institute of Mass Communications (CARIMAC). Cathy has over 20 years of experience in the field of communications – marketing/public relations and television production. According to Kleinhans, “jamroppo is a brand. It is authentically Jamaican, unique and innovative in concept. In its pursuit of excellence and professionalism it will run the full gamut of the 21st Century marketing mix but always with personalized service which I pride myself on and with a winning smile.”

She went on to add, “In terms of the elements making up this event, we are not doing anything that other Jamaican organizations have not attempted before in New York City.” However, she stated, “That’s where it ends. jamroppo is big on presentation.” jamroppo’s mission is to inform, entertain and educate about Jamaica. “Without giving away all the secrets,” she explained, “people will come away that night learning something about Jamaica. For example, the very name of the event is Jamaica’s national motto “Out Of Many One People.” Secondly, beverages will be named after places in Jamaica.”

Mark Kong Quee, a graduate of the Edna Manley School of Visual Arts is the Creative Director of the event and is known for his extraordinary creativity in cuisine, fashion, and theatre. Mark worked with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission on a number of Festivals, Jamaica’s premier cultural extravaganza.

“Out Of Many One People” Independence celebration event, rests in the context of a celebration of freedom for all Caribbean people. The first set of black people in the world to successfully negotiate their freedom from slavery is the now famous Maroons of Jamaica, slaves who resisted British oppression. Cudjoe, one of the leaders of the Maroons, negotiated a peace treaty with the British government in 1739. Haiti is, undeniably, from 1804 the first black republic in the new world. Moreover, Haiti’s massive slave uprising took place in August. Haiti celebrates its bicentennial this year. Jamaica eventually gained Independence on August 6, 1962, and Trinidad and Tobago, later that month. August is, therefore, symbolic to that quest for freedom for Caribbean nationals and those in the diasporas. The Caribbean population is a melting pot of African, European, Asian and Middle Eastern ancestry that is distinctly Caribbean. Jamaica’s motto “Out Of Many One People” is applicable to the entire Caribbean region and jamroppo celebrates this cultural diversity and similarity.