THIS year, Jamaica Day expanded its reach to Iowa in the United States with a simulcast celebration in the cities of Cedar Falls and Waterloo.

Mayors Danny Laudick and Quinton Hart addressed the gatherings, showcasing the growing international embrace of Jamaican culture.

The Ministry of Education and Youth continued to promote Jamaica’s cultural heritage and identity through its annual Jamaica Day observances, and this year it aligned the celebrations with the Transforming Education for National Development (Trend) campaign at the William Knibb Memorial High School.

Chair of the Jamaica Day Planning Committee and senior education officer at the ministry, Marlon Williams, emphasised the integration of Trend into this year’s event.

“The ministry is excited to introduce Trend to our annual Jamaica Day tradition. This year, it was region three’s turn, and we were thrilled to celebrate with the students and staff of the prestigious William Knibb Memorial High School,” said Williams.

He noted that this initiative forms part of the ministry’s annual tradition of highlighting a distinct school for Jamaica Day celebrations, building on the previous year’s event.

In her address, Marsha Smith, minister of state in the Ministry of Education and Youth, commended William Knibb Memorial High School students for their exceptional contributions and urged them to proudly represent Jamaican culture on a global scale.

Commenting on the simulcast, Williams said, “When we learned that these US cities proclaimed and celebrated Jamaica Day last year, we reached out to collaborate. Today marks the day when Jamaica and Iowa have set the Trend of having Jamaicans here, Jamaicans abroad, and Jamaicans at heart celebrating who we are in sports, as we gave the world the fastest man and woman.”