A new campaign led by Palace Amusement Company and endorsed by Governor-General Sir Florizel Glasspole encouraged Jamaicans to stand in honour of the National Anthem. The initiative, launched at the Carib Theatre, aims to restore respect for national symbols and promote patriotism across the island. With schools, churches, and public figures joining the call, the movement reminds citizens that standing for the anthem is a simple but powerful act of national pride.

Published Monday, May 14, 1990

Stand for the National Anthem

By Franklin McKnight

Stand up for Jamaica’s National Anthem was the message preached yesterday from the stage of the Carib Theatre, Cross Roads, Kingston.

It is a theme to be urged on Jamaicans over the next few months through an initiative by the Palace Amusement Company.

From the stage of the old cinema, a landmark in Kingston, Sir Florizel Glasspole, Governor-General, endorsed the call of Douglas Graham, Managing Director of Palace Amusement, the island’s leading film distributor, for the nation to honour the National Anthem by standing when it is played or sung.

The Governor-General said he wanted to see "a relentless campaign to spread that spirit (of national pride) throughout the countryside." He said schools should lead the way in showing respect for the National Anthem, the Jamaican Flag, and the National Pledge, and he asked the Church and individuals to play their part, too. "Economics is vitally important, but along with that goes respect for our country," Sir Florizel said.

Example
Palace Amusement Co. is to set the example by resuming the playing of the anthem at its movie houses, a practice suspended more than a decade ago when Jamaicans showed such widespread disregard for this symbol of nationhood that Mr. Graham felt he had no choice but to "quietly" withdraw its playing before the showing of movies.
The cinema chain has asked several high-profile personalities in the society to endorse an appeal to cinema audiences to stand up when the National Anthem is being played. To encourage love for the National Anthem, there are several versions of it being taped for Palace Amusement.

At yesterday’s presentation, a live version in a cross between pop and gospel by the Chalice band was performed as well as an instrumental version by Dean Fraser on saxophone.

Four other taped versions were played, one each by Monty Alexander, John Williams (instrumentals), Bloodfire Posse, and Darcy Tulloch accompanied by John Williams. Mr. Graham said he was seeking several more versions, including some by international artists.

He had hoped to have by now secured on tape for playing the popular reggae version by Sonny Bradshaw and the Big Band but had not yet been able to do so.

Among those to have already endorsed the entreaty to stand up for Jamaica’s National Anthem are Fr Richard HoLung, Roman Catholic priest; Grace Jackson, international track star; and radio personality Francois St Juste. Other leading personalities in various fields are to be asked to assist.

Proud
In urging the audience to stand before the National Anthem begins, the personality identifies himself and then says: "Like you, I am proud to be Jamaican. Let's stand for the National Anthem."

In outlining his initiative, Mr Graham suggested that the genesis of a negative reaction to the Jamaica National Anthem came out of non-violent resistance to the colonial masters when people remained seated during the singing of God Save the Queen and Rule Britannia as acts of defiance. "Before long it was August 1962, we had a new set of symbols ... and we continued to sit" for the playing of the Jamaican Anthem, Mr. Douglas said. He said the economic downturn of the 1970s and '80s did not endear many to the country or make them feel a sense of pride, and so the National Anthem was spurned.

The function, in which the audience stood through at least eight versions of the National Anthem, was followed by the epic film Glory, showing the patriotic fight of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment before the U.S. Civil War.

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