Rural Jamaicans urged to embrace Jamaica 63 celebrations

Jamaicans living in rural parishes are being encouraged to fully participate in this year’s Jamaica 63 Independence celebrations, with festivities set to reach deep into communities across the island. The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), is leading the charge under the national theme, “Be Proud, Be Bold in Black, Green, and Gold.”

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Portfolio Minister, the Hon. Olivia Grange, speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, announced that mini galas and community fireworks displays will light up the island on August 6, mirroring the excitement of the Grand Gala at Kingston’s National Stadium.

“There will be fireworks in Ocho Rios, Negril, and Montego Bay that will be almost as exciting as what you will see in Kingston,” Minister Grange said. “There will be smaller fireworks, maybe five-minute segments across the island in the different parish capitals.”

Noting that the National Stadium has limited capacity, the Minister encouraged residents from rural areas to stay local and enjoy the curated celebrations being staged in their own parishes. “We are producing for you in your parish rather than having everyone come into Kingston. We encourage you to enjoy what is being offered in your local communities,” she said.

Director of the JCDC’s Community Cultural Development Services Division, Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to inclusivity. “We take all our work, all our festivals, all our competitions to the deep rural areas of Jamaica. We have about 800 communities… we definitely will be spreading and taking our celebrations to many of them,” she told JIS News.

Parish councillors and municipal corporations are already engaged in planning, with communities preparing decorations, staging events, and building support through parish cultural committees. These committees include representatives from businesses, schools, banks, and civic organisations, who provide both funding and hands-on participation.

“We’ve been on the ground from as early as May, going to communities, sharing and preparing persons for the festival,” Leyden-Kirton said. “This is a collective effort—of people, pride, and purpose—in every corner of the island.”