吀栀e Honourable ALANDO TERRELONGE Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign A昀昀airs and Foreign Trade Fellow Jamaicans in the Diaspora, Happy Independence to you all! This year, we commemorate our anniversary of Independence under the theme, “Jamaica 61: Proud and Strong”, one which epitomises the popular Jamaican adage, “wi likkle but wi tallawah”. In de昀椀ance of our compara琀椀vely small physical size, as a country and as a people, we exude resilience, for琀椀tude and determina琀椀on - intrinsic quali琀椀es imparted to us by our forebearers over hundreds of years. The Jamaica we call home today, is the legacy of our ancestors and the manifesta- 琀椀on of our con琀椀nued quest for prosperity and development. This is a reality of which we must never lose sight. A blessed na琀椀on, Jamaica con琀椀nues to shine in the interna琀椀onal arena, receiving many accolades, supported by a strong brand, driven mainly by our cultural, sport and ar琀椀s琀椀c a琀琀ributes and the na琀椀onal characteris琀椀cs that de昀椀ne us. As we recall the struggles for independence, we are reminded of the seminal role ingenuity, courage and vision have played in uni琀椀ng our people in the call to freedom and to stand up against injus琀椀ce. We can take our encouragement from the past to inspire us to reap new victories in the years ahead. Our Independence anniversary is also a 琀椀me for celebra琀椀on and we take great pride in the various ac琀椀vi琀椀es that are or- ganised, both locally and across the global diaspora, to commemorate our rich cultural heritage. In par琀椀cular, we must also re昀氀ect upon and pay homage to our magni昀椀cent African legacy and our mighty ancestors who fought and sacri昀椀ced their lives to win our freedom from the period of enslavement as pronounced in the edict of Emancipa琀椀on 185 years ago. These events represent a signi昀椀cant investment in keeping our heritage alive, for “a people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” This also allows for the further development of projects and programmes to engage our diaspora, connect them with their glorious roots, and empower them with the knowledge that they are descended from a proud and strong people. For we must never forget that the same strength and resilience of our forebearers course through our veins and 昀氀ourish across nd rd th the diaspora in the untapped resources of 2 3 and 4 genera琀椀ons of LIT Jamaican youth who no doubt have a role to play in Leading, Inspiring and Transforming not just their communi琀椀es abroad, but also in making a posi琀椀ve impact to the further growth, sustainable development and prosperity of Jamaica. Consequently, I am forever mindful that our youth is a cri琀椀cal cohort in our development agenda and I am commi琀琀ed to pursuing ini琀椀a琀椀ves for their engagement in the Diaspora. It is my convic琀椀on that our enduring cultural heritage, an endow- ment which we share as a people, remains an important lever in enabling greater connec琀椀vity and empowerment, as we seek to further advance our development agenda. As we look ahead, the Government of Jamaica remains steadfast in our duty to build our great na琀椀on in alignment with Vision 2030, our Na琀椀onal Development plan. It is signi昀椀cant that the Na琀椀onal Diaspora Policy is also 昀椀rmly aligned with Vi- sion 2030. As Minister of State with responsibility for Diaspora A昀昀airs, this singular fact is an important focus of my e昀昀orts. My vision for Diaspora engagement is anchored in the commonali琀椀es that unify us and the collec琀椀ve thrust in our mutual Jamaica-Diaspora partnership. The full implementa琀椀on of the Na琀椀onal Diaspora Policy requires con琀椀nued dedica琀椀on and commitment, even as we draw on the experiences of the past to re昀椀ne and re-energise a robust approach going forward. st On this our 61 Anniversary of Independence, let us re-dedicate ourselves in unwavering service to our homeland, to our fellow Jamaicans, to our brothers and sisters. Let us enlarge the boundaries of Brand Jamaica into the depths of lands not usually trodden, as we play our part to advance the welfare of the whole human race and con琀椀nue to make Jamaica “proud and strong”. 10 10