STARTING tomorrow (Saturday, July 31) and climaxing on Independence Day, Friday August 6, will be the official seven days of celebrations, known as Jamaica Festival.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange, MP, is asking business enterprises and Government offices nationwide to fly the National Flag and include the national colours in their decorations and displays as Jamaica prepares to celebrate its 48th Anniversary of Independence.

Minister Grange says the colours, the Flag, and other national symbols “will heighten visual impact and strengthen the national spirit”. The minister is also reminding that the correct procedure for flying the Flag is to raise it at 8 am and lower at sunset. The culture minister is encouraging everyone to make creative use of the national colours — black, gold and green — in dress and fashion accessories. According to Minister Grange, there will be “a burst of festivities and creative cultural events” beginning with the Emancipation Jubilee on Saturday (July 31) at the Seville Heritage Park, St Ann. The Emancipation Jubilee will retrace the experience of our ancestors on their journey to and arrival in Jamaica.