With restrictions on live activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaicans have been invited to join the virtual online celebration of the nation’s 59th year of Independence.

According to Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, the events will be broadcast on national television or online to allow the public to participate from the safety and comfort of their homes. 

“I made a conscious decision as minister that we will work as much as possible using our online platforms at this particular time,” she told the Jamaica Information Service recently. 

“All of our events will be carried on television and online and limited activity with a live audience. We really want to make sure that we are part of an effort to be compliant… so we do not expose too many persons in face-to-face contact. We are doing that and hopefully, we will come out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger and better so we can really celebrate next year,” Grange said. 

“We are going to really launch big for next year when we celebrate our 60th anniversary of Independence, our Diamond Jubilee.”

This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme: ‘Jamaica 59: Come Mek We Celebrate Online’. 

The schedule of activities includes the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation and the Jamaica Gospel Star Final, both of which took place on Sunday

Erica Lumsden took home the title and $1-million cash prize as the nation’s first ever Gospel Star, while Miss Manchester, Dominique Reid, successfully followed in her mother Karlene Kelly-Reid’s footsteps to be crowned Miss Jamaica Festival Queen.

Kelly-Reid was Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 1991, exactly 30 years ago.

Activities continue Thursday (August 5) with ‘An Evening at King’s House’ beginning at 6:00 pm on PBCJ. 

On Fridady, Independence Day, the National Independence Flag Raising Ceremony will be broadcast on PBCJ, beginning at 9:00 am, followed by the Jamaica Independence Story at 5:00 pm on TVJ; and the Independence Online Party at 9:00 pm, also on TVJ. The Independence Party will be rebroadcast on TVJ on August 7 at 9:00 pm.