THE Jamaica Observer yesterday joined in celebrating the country's 50th anniversary of Independence with a flag-raising ceremony at the newspaper's headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.

Several staff members, smartly decked out in the national colours, turned out for the event as members of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force raised the National Flag as well as that of the Observer and its parent, the ATL Group.

Managing Director Danville Walker, in welcoming guests, said Jamaica has lot to be grateful for as it celebrate 50 years of Independence.

"We have had no wars, though we have assisted with a couple; we have had no civil wars and strife, though we have come close; we have improved quite a number of things in our years and many things we take for granted [like] religious freedom, opportunity to better ourselves through education, yet we have many problem but we are working everyday to make them fewer," he said.

Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair, in a brief address to the gathering, urged the nation to take time out during its celebration to reflect on the type of freedom that is being celebrated and to strive for mental and spiritual freedom.

"At this juncture of our 50th anniversary of Independence, I declare that as a nation we seek to attain a state of mental and spiritual freedom. Mental freedom to free our minds to think proactively towards rebuilding our economy and making this nation a force to be reckoned with, and spiritual freedom [in] striving for a complete identification with God and His will," said Bishop Blair, pastor of the Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre.

There were lively performances by the Mona High School and young dancers from the Tivoli Dance Troupe, while the Observer's Winsome Excel entertained with her rendition of Miss Lou's Nuh Likke Tanks.