1. February: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock as a gold album (meaning album sales exceed 500,000 units) in just three months after its release.

2. August: Cultural icon Louise Bennett-Coverley was invited by the Government of Jamaica as our special guest for the Independence celebrations.

3. October: Sixty-eight-year-old educator and playwright, Thomas Edward ‘Ted’ Dwyer, OD died after suffering a stroke. He was the founding principal of Excelsior Community College, the first learning institution of its kind to be established in Jamaica.

4. The Cabinet made changes to the symbolism of the colours in the National Flag. It was changed from ‘From hardship there are but the land is green and the sun shineth’, to ‘The sun shineth; the land is green; and the people are strong and creative’.

5. Professional boxer Mike McCallum, OD was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

6. Laura Facey-Cooper unveiled her controversy Redemption Song statue at the entrance of Emancipation Park to commemorate Jamaica’s 40th year of Independence.

7. Usain Bolt ran a then record-breaking 20:13 seconds in the 200 metres at the CAC youth meet in Barbados and for the second year running captured the IAAF Youth Athlete of the Year award. 2003 was also his final year competing at the Jamaica high school championships.

8. November: Jamaican entertainer Shaggy released his second compilation titled Boombastic Hits featuring a range of material from his albums Boombastic and Midnite Lover, and the previously unreleased single One Burner.

9. Jamaica made progressive steps in media and telecommunications with the start of the change from analog to digital television broadcasting and a break-up of the monopoly in the telecommunications market.

10. There was much talk of economics with the rapid devaluation of the local currency, wholesale taxation, rising debt, the layoff of public servants and serious intervention by the Bank of Jamaica in the exchange market.

— Compiled by Kimberley Sherlock