National Thanksgiving Service Opens Jamaica 64 Emancipation and Independence Observances

Jamaica opened its Jamaica 64 observances with the National Emancipation and Independence Thanksgiving Church Service at Olson Memorial Church of God, under the theme United in Celebrating Resilience and the sub-theme Blessed and Built to Last.

Host pastor Reverend Adonar Jones welcomed government, opposition, judiciary, diplomatic and cultural representatives to the service. Among those present were Prime Minister Dr the Most Hon Andrew Holness; Hon Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport; Hon Fayval Williams, Minister of Finance and the Public Service; Senate President Senator the Hon Thomas Tavares-Finson; Chief Justice Hon Mr Justice Brian Sykes; and Senator Kesha Anderson, representing Opposition Leader Mark Golding. Hon Marcia Bennett, Custos Rotulorum for St. Thomas, delivered greetings on behalf of Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, who was unable to attend.

Minister Grange said the service begins a season of thanksgiving for emancipation and 64 years of independence, stressing that Jamaican resilience is rooted in faith. She outlined key Jamaica 64 events: the Festival Song finals at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, where the winning song was titled I Love Jamaica; the Emancipation Jubilee on Friday, July 31, at Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann; Independence Village at the National Stadium Complex from August 1 to 5; and the Independence Grand Gala on Thursday, August 6, featuring drone displays, fireworks and a Jamaica Defence Force programme marking 50 years of women in the Force. She also said next year’s 65th anniversary observances will be specially marked.

In the Governor-General’s message, Ms Bennett linked the year’s theme to recovery from Hurricane Melissa, recalling emancipation and Independence as milestones that still call for unity, compassion and national rebuilding. Holness read Nehemiah 2:11–18 and Anderson read 2 Corinthians 4:3–10.

Guest speaker Reverend Jonathan Hemans, an ordained Jamaica Baptist Union minister and pastor of the Otus Circuit of Baptist Churches, preached on Psalm 33 and the call to build back better together. He urged Jamaicans to claim self-determination, share responsibility beyond party lines, and trust the people’s resilience as the country rebuilds.

Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Brittany Clark and the 2026 parish queens led the National Pledge. Grange later presented a plaque to Reverend Jones and the congregation on behalf of the Government, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and the Committee for the Promotion of National Religious Services for hosting the 2026 service.