At 59 years old maybe you can forgive some of the young among us for not understanding how far the little island of Jamaica has come as an independent nation. However, the pride of the occasion can be used as a sort of reminder. After all, you can’t know where you’re going, lest you know from whence you came.

Published Wednesday, August 8, 1962

Midnight...then bonfires, fireworks...

Down the Union Jack, up the Black, Gold and Green

With pomp and ceremony, and in an atmosphere of general rejoicing all over the country, Jamaica became an independent nation at midnight Sunday.

More than 20,000 people crowded the National Stadium Sunday night to see the Union Jack hauled down and the Jamaica National Flag hoisted in its place to the top of the flagstaff while eager voices sang Jamaica’s National Anthem.

The flag-raising ceremony was duplicated in towns and villages all over Jamaica as well as in Jamaican communities in England and the United States and in various countries and the Western Hemisphere.

Centre of the ceremonies was Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, representing her sister, the Queen Apart from gracing all the state ceremonies and less formal occasions with her presence the Princess declared the nation's first Parliament open at Gordon House yesterday morning.

'Out of many...'

Sharing the spotlight of attention was the Hon. Sir Alexander Bustamante, who has become the first Prime Minister of Jamaica, and holds the port folios of Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Defence, as well, and the nation's first Governor General His Excellency Sir Kenneth Blackburne and Lady Blackburne.

The spectacle of bonfires on the hills, fireworks at the National Stadium and other centres dancing in the streets, donkey races, treats for schoolchildren and the aged, regattas, parties galore, brought Jamaicans of all races, all classes and colours and creeds together to celebrate, their independence, and to symbolize the motto: "Out of many, one people."

In a heavy programme of duties, Princess Margaret and the  Earl of Snowdon attended the National Parade, Flag-raising ceremony and Fireworks Display on Sunday night, August 5 and Monday morning August 6, received foreign delegates and representatives at King's House on Monday afternoon, August 6, attended the Prime Minister's reception at Vale Royal and later the State Ball at the Sheraton Hotel in the evening.

Tuesday evening, August 7, after opening Parliament in the morning, Princess Margaret was guest of honour at the State Banquet at the Sheraton-Kingston hotel.

To the country

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon leave Kingston this morning (August 8) for Spanish Town by motorcar, where they will board the Royal Coach that will take them to Montego Bay, stopping at Denbigh, Williamsfield, Maggotty, and Montpelier.

There will be a civic welcome for her at Charles Square, Montego Bay.

The Princess will spend a quiet day on August 9, before departing for home at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, August 10.

Meanwhile, hundreds of messages have poured in from all over the world congratulating Jamaica on her independence.

They have come from the British Prime Minister, Mr Harold Macmillan, President Kennedy of the United States, Mr Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union, from Peru, Sweden, the King of Denmark, West Germany, Japan, the United Nations Special Committee on Colonialism, the Bahamas, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister of Nigeria, Mr Rashidi Kawawa, Prime Minister of Tanganyika, Pope John XXIII, Sir Milton Margai, Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, U Thant acting Secretary General of the United Nations, the Administrator, St. Kitts, and the Governor General of Sierra Leone, among many others.

Two thousand Jamaicans celebrated at the Lyceum Ballroom in West Central London where the National Flag was unfurled and the Anthems sung on Monday night, August 6, after many of them had attended a solemn service of thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey.

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