Jamaicans in South Florida communities are beginning to celebrate the nation’s 43rd anniversary of Independence with several activities throughout the tri-county area – Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Hon. Donald Rhodd, will be the guest speaker at the 21st annual Grand Independence Ball to be held on Saturday, July 30th, at the Renaissance Hotel, in downtown Miami. The Florida-based folk group, the Jamaica Folk Revue and the Bare Essentials band will provide entertainment. This event is hosted by Needy Kids of Jamaica, a South Florida non-profit group.
The seventh annual Culturama Concert returns to Miami with an added show in Tampa. Billed as Culturama 2005, this event is a showcase of various Jamaican traditional and folk art forms that include dance, song, and drama.
This year’s performances will include the Festival award-winning Clonmel Cultural Club which includes students from Clonmel Primary and Junior High schools from St. Mary, the Stella Maris Dance Group, Peace Makers Mento Band, the Tivoli Gardens Dancers and popular dance group the Nomads.
Local performers will include folkloric group, the Jamaica Folk Revue and the Tallawah mento band.
The show begins on Saturday, July 30th at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The Cultural performers will then play to audience at the Coral Springs Performing Arts Center on Sunday, July 31st.
The annual Culturama event is hosted by South Florida based Jamaica Awareness, Inc., and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).
As is customary, Jamaicans will come together for the annual Ecumenical Church service to be held on Sunday, August 7th at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale.
The Reverend Oliver Daley of Ridgemount United Church in Mandeville will be the guest preacher at this event. Recitals are expected from the Jamaica Independence Choir made up of choristers of several Jamaican congregations in the South Florida communities.
A community reception hosted by the staff of the Jamaica Consulate in Miami will follow the service at which several hundred Jamaican nationals and friends have been invited to participate in an evening of fellowship.
All three counties have acknowledged the nation’s Independence with proclamations to be presented to the Consul General, Mr. Ricardo Allicock.
The Premier Independence Ball was held last Saturday (July 23) at the Signature Grand in Davie. Jamaica United Relief Association (JURA) and Members Only Social Club of Miami along with the Cornwall College and Immaculate Conception Alumni Associations jointly hosted that event. Entertainment was provided by Jamaica’s Fifty/Fifty Band. Proceeds from that fundraiser will benefit health and education projects in Jamaica.
Jamaicans in the Catholic Mission will celebrate the annual Independence Mass on Sunday (July 31) at 2:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Kendall, South Miami.
The Christian Awareness Association will host their annual service on Sunday, August 14th, at the San Isidro Catholic Church at 2310 Martin Luther King Boulevard in Pompano Beach, starting at 3 p.m.
The 14th annual Community health fair of the Palm Beaches will be held on Saturday (July 30) at the Children’s Medical Services of St. Mary’s Hospital in that area. The all-day event is hosted by the Jamaican of the Palm Beaches and the United Sports and Cultural Club associations of Jamaican volunteers.
In preparation for the upcoming fall school semester, hundreds of students are expected to benefit from free immunizations and physical health screening by volunteer medical and para-medical professionals from the community.
Jamaican nationals in Palm Beach are invited to worship and fellowship at the Grace Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach on Sunday (July 31) at 10 a.m.
Minister of Labor, Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bruce Golding will be in attendance at the annual Ball of Jamaicans of the Palm Beaches Association to be held at the Hilton Hotel in West Palm Beach on Saturday (Aug. 6).
On Sunday (Aug. 7) the United Sports and Cultural Club will host the annual all day Independence Festival and Concert at the John Hopkins Park. A line-up of Jamaican and local artistes are expected to perform at the event which will also include activities for the entire family.
The Jamaican community in Port St. Lucie, central Florida community will also celebrate the nation’s 43rd Independence with a thanksgiving service on Sunday (Aug. 7) at 2:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Port St. Lucie.
