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JCDC announces activities for Emancipation/Independence in St Bess

Loop News

July 30, 2024 1:55 PM ET

2 mins read

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Jamaica

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has announced several  activities in St Elizabeth to celebrate Emancipation Day on August 1 and Independence Day on August 6.

This year marks the 186th anniversary of Jamaica’s Emancipation and the 62nd year of its Independence.

Parish Administrator, JCDC, in St Elizabeth, Kayla Watson, told JIS News that the festivities promise to be both meaningful and entertaining.

She indicated that an Emancipation vigil is set to take place at the historic St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, July 31, from 11:00pm to midnight.

“It’s like a Watch Night leading up into Emancipation Day,” said Watson, who noted that this will be a closed-off ceremony due to the recent impact of Hurricane Beryl on the parish.

She  noted that on Independence Day (August 6), there will be a flag-raising ceremony at Independence Park in Black River, beginning at 9:00am.

Watson said this event will last until noon and is expected to draw a large crowd of community members, local officials and visitors.

“In the afternoon, we’ll be having the Independence Fun Fair, which is a family activity. So, you can bring out all the children and the family,” she said.