SAGICOR Life Jamaica and Pan Caribbean Financial Services used their annual staff motivational meeting this year to recognise Jamaica’s 50th year of political Independence.

The meeting, titled ‘Blast Off’, was held last month at Jamaica College in St Andrew under the theme ‘We Rise’ and featured inspirational addresses, including one by Richard Byles, chairman of Pan Caribbean Financial Services and president and CEO of Sagicor Jamaica Group.

Byles told the more than 900 members of staff that at the beginning of every year he asks himself “How will we do better than last year?”

He added: “Every year my apprehension builds and it seems we are standing at the foot of the hill looking up. But every year we manage to find a way to climb to the peak and plant our flag of success.”

The day’s events were infused with elements of Jamaican culture, inclusive of poetry, dance, and music.

The school’s driveway was converted into a food village and was decorated to resemble King Street in downtown Kingston from the ocean to Sir William Grant Park and on to the Ward Theatre.

Jamaican dance icon Dr L’Antoinette Stines provided all cultural elements starting with the Carifolk Singers greeting attendees on arrival.

The event opened in the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium featuring L’Acadco Drum Xplosion and more than 40 dancers who presented Jamaican culture from kumina to dancehall all narrated by Amina Blackwood-Meeks.

Donovan Perkins created excitement with his fully choreographed opening dance number which focused on some of the successes of PanCaribbean last year, among them being named the Champion Company by Investor’s Choice.

He pointed to one achievement that was a first for a listed company, saying: “We were… by far, the top performing company at the Jamaica Stock Exchange Best Practice Awards where we won an unprecedented five first place awards.”

Young reggae singer Romain Virgo,, as well as Jamaican musical icon Marcia Griffiths — both backed by the Lloyd Parks and We the People Band — also provided entertainment.

To seal the truly Jamaican experience, staff members exited the auditorium to witness an Independence parade complete with Jonkanoo bands and drummers, Tainos on a float, effigies of national heroes Nanny, Marcus Garvey and Paul Bogle; set girls, revivalists, and ska, mento and dancehall dancers.

The parade ended with the entrance of Miss Jamaica World 2011 Danielle Crosskill sitting in a vintage car waving to the awe-struck staffers.