GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MESSAGE FOR JAMAICA'S 41st ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
Today we celebrate our
forty-first anniversary of Independence. How do we feel about it? Do we see our
country and her people as having achieved much? Are we proud of being Jamaican?
Our answer cannot be less than positive.
Are there aspects of our
lifestyles that we are unhappy about? Since the answer is yes, what are we
doing to change them, individually and collectively? After all it is up to us.
As we mark this anniversary
period may I invite us all as Jamaican citizens to ponder seriously and
honestly on these questions.
Marcus Garvey said in his
"Building The New Jamaica Speech" in 1932 - "Those of us who
love our country cannot but interest ourselves in this desire to see our
country taking a place and standing second to none in the world. When I say
second to none, I mean it only in a limited sense, because our country is
small. I mean it from an economical, industrial, social, educational point of
view... There is no reason why we should not do everything for the development
of our country to make Jamaicans the happiest people in the world... satisfied
and contented. Nature has blessed us with everything conducive to this ...
Arise Jamaicans and do!"
Many of our great patriots
and leaders took up Garvey's challenge, and now, to say the gaining of
Independence was a highly symbolic and noble feat for our country, is an
understatement. Independence brought with it a sense of great accomplishment,
pride and joy by those who had zealously worked to bring it to fruition and who
wanted to see their country and her people progress and take her rightful place
amidst other nations.
For the most part, on that
momentous occasion on August 6, 1962, Jamaicans saw themselves as joint partners
in the fervour to take their country forward. It was a moment of joy,
exultation and excitement. We saw Independence as a challenging but highly
progressive move for our country. The expectations immediately made us realise
that there had to be a new dynamism. I was there and I felt the ferment.
I can recall how Jamaicans
from Morant Point to Negril spoke with pride about this milestone in our
country's history. The then Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante urged us
to respond to the challenges of the new era within which we were entering and
to the difficult tasks and responsibilities ahead.
Independence, he said, meant
the opportunity for us to frame our own destiny and the need to rely on
ourselves in so doing. It was not a license to do as we liked but meant work,
law and order.
Norman Manley, the other
father of our nation, in his remarks in Parliament endorsing these sentiments
said - "I believe that as an independent nation we can so manage ourselves
as to demonstrate, how, by making our great Motto "Out Of Many One
People", come to speak the truth about ourselves, we can become a
worthwhile and shining example of the sort of world men sometimes dream
about."
I remind you of these things
so that we can be further inspired to take our country forward.
Where we have reached is a
result of our own endeavours tailored in part by assistance from our brothers
and sisters around the world. Let me at this point, on behalf of our nation,
thank those countries that have contributed to our pursuit for nationhood.
We need not be ashamed at
our progress to date. I thank God that to this day - despite our struggles and
setbacks, despite wars and rumours of war, despite droughts and hurricanes,
despite economic distress - we have been achievers and in some instances,
conquerors in the world.
In so many areas of
development Jamaica has made a mark on the world scene to the envy of other
nations. In sports, music, international relations, medicine, education,
agriculture we have made our name.
Just recently, the
prestigious University of Oxford bestowed one of its highest honours on one of
our distinguished sons of the soil. In responding to congratulations extended
to him, Professor the Honourable Rex Nettleford said "I am of course
pleased because it says far more about Jamaica than about the recipient who is
merely the manifestation of the great and wonderful blessings this country has
to offer all who tenant it."
If I might give you another
example - our own Molly Rhone was recently made President of the International
Netball Association, the first Jamaican to hold such a post in an international
sporting body. Nettleford and Rhone are only two of the many persons that we
can add to the long list of persons in our Jamaican Hall of Fame.
All these persons whom I
have mentioned have shown us that we can achieve when we think big,
passionately, unselfishly and with vision, working towards the
"upliftment" of our country and people.
I must confess that as a
nation I do not think that we have done enough to show off our history,
development and achievements. We need to speak of our accomplishments or else
we will get bogged down in the negative situations that might be affecting us
and which, if I might add, are affecting many countries around the world. It is
in the knowledge and appreciation of our achievements that we get inspiration
and become committed to carrying on the struggles.
Intrinsic to the total
framework of our national lives and development is the need to weave in sound
social values and attitudes. Our quest to achieve the highest social standards
must begin within ourselves and within our families. We must remember that
whoever we are, whatever our circumstances we can make a difference and be
masters of our and our country's destiny.
It is not enough to identify
and harp on our problems but we have to make up our minds to solve them. It may
mean that we have to change our lifestyles, be more conservative in our
spending, plan our saving more carefully and ensure that there is the creation
of capital.
In deciding how we will
solve these problems, we must identify clearly where we are going and do not
allow ourselves to be distracted from our goal. We must stay the course.
Today we stand on the
threshold of a new dimension in our upward and forward movement. We have
fashioned our laws to accommodate greater changes in our society. We are
restructuring our community development programme to effect changes and to
improve the living standards of our people.
We must seek goodness, mercy
and truth, so let us ask God for guidance as we seek to make our country truly
be one of the greatest countries in this world. It is totally possible.
In 1962 we experienced a
vision reflected in our National Anthem and National Pledge. Let us revisit
them and make them truly be a part of our lives.
Our leaders and people in
1962 made their impact and now it is the responsibility of each succeeding
generation to understand and profit from their experience and continue taking
steps to make the vision for Jamaica a reality.
Let us go forward with faith
and commitment for the good of all.
Howard Cooke Governor-General
2003-07-30
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