Precisely at midnight, on August 5, 1962, the Union Jack- the British flag – was lowered and the Jamaican flag hoisted.
The birth announcement of an independent Jamaica went forth.
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A ceremony marking this historic event was held at the newly constructed National Stadium in Kingston. Jamaica’s first Governor-General and Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and Mr. Norman Manley, Leader of the Opposition were our founding fathers.
A joining of choirs sang with gusto the new National Anthem and then a magnificent fireworks display lit up the sky over the stadium.
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Do you remember what you were doing or what was happening in 1962? Well, I was barely out of cloth diapers.
- Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. becomes first American to achieve earth orbit.
- Telstar becomes the first communications satellite intended for regular service; relays television signals between North America and Europe.
- Nike designed their first sneaker.
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And now in 2009, I find myself living in diaspora.
Iphone, Facebook, Google are a part of my daily routine, and yet these technological marvels were not even dreams back in 1962.
One of my work program allows me to deal with intellectual property (captured in patent applications) of leading innovative companies in the world. When one gets beyond the interaction with patent attorneys, and sense the scope of the technological future, one has to say wow! The world has clearly advanced with technology!
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But as one takes a moment to reflect, is the technological leverage what we need to propel Jamaica into a new orbit? We at times look at the Asian tigers with admiration on how they were able to engineer an infrastructure that allowed them to gain economic momentum. But is technological horsepower the missing ingredient?
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Last Sunday at an Emancipation/Independence Thanksgiving service, the Governor-General exhorted those in attendance to redouble the moral authority of the church to transform the nation. This was another presentation underscoring his “I believe in Jamaica” message.
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“The Church was at the forefront of the struggle for freedom from physical bondage and slavery. The Church must, again, stand in the forefront and give leadership in the struggle against moral, mental, emotional and economic bondage; the Church has the moral and spiritual authority. Do not drop the ball, otherwise we may all perish,” the Governor-General urged.
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Click to hear Hon. Bruce Golding’s Independence day message
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This is a challenging call, as we are called to ensure our future progress is built on enduring footing. We do need a platform where our motto “Out of many, One people “ takes on a deeper commitment for our most at risk.
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Booker T. Washington, a giant of yester years said it well.
“If you want to lift yourself up, then lift someone else up.”
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So as Jamaica enters its 47th. year of independence, my personal response to the Governor-General’s call is to practice a spirit of abundance.
When we think of abundance, we are usually tempted to limit our definition to a physical expression. In an era of prolonged recession, this can be most challenging.
Please remember, abundance is an attitude, not a bank account number.
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- I want to practice an abundance in closeness to God.
- An abundance to enrich relationships with family and friends.
- An abundance of health in body and spirit.
- An abundance in maximizing the stewardship of time.
- An abundance in resources to get beyond cash flow limitation and help others in need.
Let’s create green shoots of abundance & freedom!
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