ATLANTA, Georgia: The Jamaican community in Atlanta, commenced a week long series of activities to celebrate Jamaica's 43rd year of independence with a Thanksgiving service at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church Hall on Sunday, July 31, 2005. Approximately three hundred Jamaicans and well wishers were in attendance. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Charles DuFour, Roman Catholic Bishop of Montego Bay. Jamaica's Honorary Consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin, read the Prime Minister's message. The first lesson was read by Allan Alberga, President of the Atlanta Jamaican Association and the second lesson was read by Tamara Cox. Union of Jamaican Organizations in Atlanta is comprised of Atlanta Jamaican Association, Atlanta Montego Bay Sister Cities, Benevolent Missions of Atlanta, Calabar High School Alumni Association, Clarendon College Alumni Association, Caribbean Sports and Social Club, Integrity Children's Fund, Kingston College Alumni Association, Queen's High School Alumni Association, St. Hugh's High School Alumni Association, Carilanta Players, Tropical Sports Club and United for Jamaica.
Sisters and Brothers in the Diaspora outside Jamaica, Season's Greetings and remember in your prayers, in this time of fellowship and love, not just your own family and friends, but the larger family of Jamaicans and our homeland, Jamaica. In the coming year, we must, must have a conference of Jamaicans in Canada - and, before the middle of the year. Let us sit together, as many Jamaicans as possible, in workshops to thrash out the solutions. We know what the problems are. Time to stop talking about them and start dealing with solutions among ourselves, in a rational, quiet manner, as our forefathers did in order to end slavery and colonialism.
