MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A recent gospel concert held at Brooks Park in Mandeville kick-started what is slated to be a full year of activities in 2014 to mark Manchester’s 200th year of existence.

The parish which is the youngest in Jamaica came into being on December 13, 1814.

According to historical data confirmed by the Manchester Parish Development Committee, Manchester was formed by an Act of the House of Assembly as a result of the amalgamation of the parishes of St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Vere.

Vere was later assimilated into the parish of Clarendon.

Manchester was reportedly named in honour of the Duke of Manchester, the then governor of Jamaica. The capital town, Mandeville, established in 1816, was named after his eldest son, Lord Mandeville.

Project manager for the Manchester Bicentennial Celebrations Steering Committee Monica Brown told the Jamaica Observer Central that the events for the year will include re-enactments of the declaration in the parish’s major towns, a gala dinner, and golf and tennis tournaments at the Manchester Golf Course, which is the oldest in the Caribbean.

Gospel artistes Omari and Jermaine Edwards were headliners at the concert which attracted a fair turnout of spectators.

Following the cutting of the cake to mark Manchester’s 199th birthday, political representatives including Mayor of Mandeville Brenda Ramsay and Councillor for the Mandeville Division Jones Oliphant gave messages of endurance and hope.

“We may be going through some rough times; our criminal activities are not as we would want it to be, but we are a strong and resilient people,” said Ramsay.

The mayor and Councillor Oliphant both noted the general downturn in the economy of the parish which resulted from the closure of two major bauxite/alumina plants — Alpart and WINDALCO.

“Let us endeavour, for 2014, that we will be our brothers’ keeper, we will be more loving, we will care for our community, we will care for those who are less fortunate…,”Oliphant urged.