By Andrew Clunis
The Jamaican independence journey has been fascinating to say the least. Many have lived to see the nation evolve from colonialism to being a powerhouse on many world stages.
For media boss Neville James Jamaica has made good on the promise of independence laying a good foundation for generations to come.
He was not integrally involved in the celebrations at the time as his work had him busy on assignment. At the time he worked for the national broadcasting house Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.
“I was a journalist working for the JBC at the time and I remember I was in Montego Bay on assignment. It meant a lot to us and people bought into the idea. There were not many naysayers; a lot of young people embraced the idea of self governance and it was a time of national pride.
Having seen the nation grow over the years he believes independence has been good for the country, “It has worked for us. We have shown that we can run our own affairs. When you look at some developed countries that got independence long before us you see that they are having challenges.
We are not perfect but we have shown that we can govern ourselves. We have one of the best democracies in the world. When you think of what we have achieved in arts, culture and sports you see that we punch well above our weight.
The key thing is for us to stay the course. We need to spend more on educating our people and make training the priority going forward. There is a very bright future for generations to come.
Filmmaker Lennie Little-White remembers the occasion very well. “In 1962, l was just a teenager from country, attending Jamaica College. Like many others, we were imbued with raw anticipation and national pride as we walked for miles to get a seat in the National Stadium to witness the hoisting of our own National Flag.”
“Jamaica's coming of age was a portal for the flourishing of the Arts - performing and plastic. One of the most significant was the birth of the National Dance Theatre Company which saw us swapping ballet shoes for bare feet to celebrate our indigenous dance forms not only on stage but in the annual Festival, staged across the country.
Parallel to that was the emergence of our very distinctive music in the form of ska - which evolved to become reggae - a new world music.
The canvas and clay were ready media to give us a phalanx of painters and potters whose artistic works served to celebrate our unique Afrocentric phenotype.
For me, this evolution in the Arts led by the Queen Mother - Miss Lou - is the most lasting Independence legacy for generations to come.”
Prof Emerita of Social History, at the University of the West Indies and member of the Jamaica Reparations Council, Verene Shepherd also has vivid memories of the independence experience:
“I celebrated it with other kids in the lower classes at Rose Bank Primary School in Dean Pen, St Mary. I recall the treats and souvenirs we received, including a small bronze cup. We marched and waved flags but at the time I did not really grasp the full meaning of independence.
“On reflection I feel proud that Jamaica said 'no' to continued colonialism; to British domination in order to rule our destiny in Buju Banton's creative term. We still are not fully independent. The last step is delinking from the British Monarchy and become a Republic. But not before we demand and secure reparations for all the damage that was done to our ancestors and for the lingering harms of chattel enslavement and colonialism. Time come..”