AFP
written by Mark Cummings
Monday August 6, 2012
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Jamaica's streets were a sea of patriotic black, green and gold on Monday as the Caribbean island cheered both a half-century of independence and this week's historic Olympic success.
The former British colony's August 6 Independence party began two days early this year when islanders Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Veronica Campbell Brown took the women's 100-meter sprint gold and bronze medals.
Then celebrations hit fever pitch Sunday when national hero Usain Bolt defended his men's 100-meter title with a new Olympic record of 9.63 seconds, with his training partner and countryman Yohan Blake just behind in silver.
With more track races to come, Jamaicans are confident their run of success in the former colonial capital London will continue but, whatever happens on the track, celebrations have started in the streets.
"Apart from celebrating our 50th anniversary as a sovereign nation, we now have lots more to celebrate," declared a beaming 37-year-old Michael Williams, a taxi driver from the rural community of Duanvale in Trelawny.
"The celebrations will continue for a while longer because we expect more medals from our athletes at the Games and when they come we will take them as our birthday present," he said.
Jamaicans fully expect their world-beating runners to add to their medal haul in the men's and women's 200-meter sprint finals later this week.
While 80,000 fans cheered the runners in the Olympic Stadium in London and plaudits poured in from the hundreds of millions who watched around the world, Jamaica as a whole also won praise on its 50th birthday.
US President Barack Obama led the chorus, lauding the island's regional role, and declaring: "Over the years we have come to know Jamaica as a leader in the Caribbean.
"Jamaica is an indispensable partner... and is a leading political voice in the region," he declared.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was not going to let the moment pass without blowing Jamaica's own trumpet in her Independence Day message, declaring: "As a nation we have much to celebrate.
"Across the country our patriotism is seen the vibrant Jamaican colors everywhere," she said, promising that the festivities would celebrate a rich cultural heritage.
Villages the length of Jamaica, a tropical island that is home to around 2.9 million people and roughly the size of Connecticut or twice as big as Wales, have organized gospel concerts, exhibitions, church services and festivals.
June Hall, a Montego Bay native who lives in Florida, was fascinated by the artifacts she saw at of the many exhibitions mounted in the parish of Hanover.
"We have certainly come a long way. I didn't know that we were in fact using this stuff," the 25-year-old woman said, as she viewed a self-heated clothes iron which was popular on the island the 1950s.
The independence celebrations were to climax late Monday with civic ceremonies in 14 parishes, where individuals were to be recognized for outstanding achievement in various fields.
Meanwhile Independence Day parties were under preparation in every town center and a Grand Gala planned for the Jamaican capital, Kingston.
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