The 50th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony at Linden is being described as, “the most well attended” for the town, GINA said.
Delivering the feature address at the ceremony, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson told residents of Region Ten to celebrate the Golden Jubilee as a national occasion. “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, to recognise the nation’s heritage, laws, history, society, and people,” she said.
Sharpe-Patterson said that upon gaining independence the nation toiled to repair a country that had been damaged by disunity and division. “We strove to create a community of comity and unity. We sought to satisfy the needs of our people by expanding public education, health, communications and transportation services. We erected an airport, bridges, highways, housing schemes, schools and a university. We established new national institutions such as our Ombudsman and our own Court of Appeal. We created a credible Foreign Service and cemented international friendships and alliances to secure our territory from external aggression. We contributed to the establishment of CARIFTA, CARICOM and the ACP. We took our place in the international community,” she said.
Brief remarks were delivered by the Deputy Director of the Community Development Council, Sandra Adams and Mayor Carwyn Holland.
GINA said that the Linden Flag Raising Ceremony also featured cultural performances by the Regional Choir, a song by Melanie King and a rendition on saxophone by Pastor Roland McDonald.
The event ended with the raising of the Golden Arrowhead in front of the Regional Democratic Council Building followed by a fireworks display.
