jamarchJamaicans attending this year’s Independence Grand Gala on August 6 at the National Stadium are being urged to wear gold for what is expected to be spectacular event.
The call came from Producer of the event, Lenford Salmon, during a press briefing at the National Arena on July 27. “This will help us to create a sea of gold, to fit in with our tribute and title of the event: ‘Tributes In Gold’,” Mr. Salmon said.
The gala, which will be the showpiece of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, will highlight the significant achievements of the nation over the past 50 years, to serve as an inspiration to a ‘Nation On A Mission’.
Mr. Salmon said the three-and-a-half hour presentation will feature all the excitement of past galas and some new surprises.
He informed that this year, there will be no Independence Day parade at King’s House and as such, the pomp and pageantry usually associated with the event will be incorporated into the grand gala in the form of a ceremonial prelude.
The event will be presented in three acts – ‘Eternal Father Bless Our Land’; ‘Natural Mystic’; and ‘Tomorrow’s People,’ and will feature dancing, choral and orchestral music, popular entertainers, giant screen video projections, colourful costumes, and audience participation.
“There (will be) over 3,000 performers with about 1,500 costumed performers. We have the uniformed groups, the army, all the uniformed services, the correctional services, the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), the youth uniform groups,” he said. The show will close with a scintillating pyrotechnic and fireworks displays.
While the gala is free to the public, patrons will be required to have tickets to get inside the 35,000 capacity National Stadium to see the event live.
By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter
Media Writer
