Jamaica’s black, green and gold flag will fly high over Paterson in New Jersey on August 1, when the local Jamaican community celebrates the country’s 49th anniversary of independence with a flag-raising ceremony on the steps of city hall and a later church service.
Organized by the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (JON-J), the Jamaica Ex-Police Association and the Jamaican Nurses Association of New Jersey, the two events commemorate Jamaica’s independence from Great Britain.
Audrey Marks, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States and Genieve Brown-Metzger, Jamaica’s Consul General in New York, are expected to attend along with Jeffery Jones ,the Mayor of Paterson and members of parliament, members of the city council, and local and state elected officials.
The festival, which will feature music and vendors selling authentic Jamaican merchandise, will kick off at 5:00 p.m. at the Paterson City Hall Plaza with the flag-raising.
The annual Independence Prayer and Thanksgiving Service will start at 4:00 p.m. at United Presbyterian Church in Paterson and will feature the Reverend Dr. Adrian McFarlane as guest speaker.
The church event will include liturgical dancers and singers and will end with a reception in the fellowship hall. Refreshments will be provided by the area’s Caribbean restaurants.
“This is JON-J’s 13th year hosting the celebration of Jamaica’s independence in New Jersey,” said Bill McKoy, the third Ward Councilman of Paterson, New Jersey and event Chairperson.
“Last year’s flag-raising ceremony was said to be the largest held at Paterson’s City Hall. It was a wonderful event and with the support of the community, we plan to make it even better this year,” he added.
Though they now call New Jersey and the United States home, millions of Jamaican-Americans gather each August to mark their country’s independence from Great Britain.
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