Statement by Senator Don Meredith in celebration of Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence

Toronto, August 3, 2012 – Jamaican-born Senator Don Meredith has issued the following statement in celebration of Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence:

As the Patron of Honour for Jamaica50 Canada and the first Jamaican to be appointed to the Senate, I want to wish Jamaicans all over the world a joyous 50th Anniversary of Independence, as well as highlight 50 years of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and Canada.

This occasion comes as Commonwealth Nations across the globe commemorate the 178th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire; an event which positioned countries like Jamaica for the pursuit of independence over a century later.

As we celebrate, it is important to remember bold visionaries like the Right Excellent Norman Manley and the Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante who dreamed of a better and brighter Jamaica. They envisioned an independent nation that would stand shoulder to shoulder with the nations of the world.

At the London conference in 1962, Premier Norman Manley proclaimed to his British counterparts and the world, “The road ends, Mr. Secretary, at a time when all empires decline; when colonialism has become a word of ugly meaning; when the sun sets ‘round the world chiefly in the flags of free peoples with whom we hope soon to walk in peace and friendship; when late, but more than ready, we join the great company of the new nations of the world.”

It is this dream that has guided Jamaica over the past 50 years.

Since then Jamaica has built a reputation as a regional and international centre for culture, hospitality, and athletics. We have become an incubator for world-class musical talent, a training ground for some of the best athletes in the world, and a launch pad for top notch professionals.

As we celebrate our collective successes, let us also ready ourselves for the opportunities before us. In the future, strategic partners like Canada will continue to play a vital role in the growth and development of Jamaica through trade, capacity building, and investment.

Looking ahead, the possibilities are endless. As Jamaicans, we are industrious people who understand the value of hard work. We are also a people of faith who have inherited an unwavering trust in God. Faith and hard work will continue to guide us as we tap into the unlimited potential of Jamaicans everywhere, leaving a legacy of progress and prosperity for future generations.

May Justice and Truth be ours forever. Let’s Jump for Jamaica.

The Honourable Dr. Don Meredith, Senator