Jamaican Independence Day Honored In Miami

 
MIAMI - At dusk Friday, the Miami Tower, formerly the Bank of America tower, at International Place in downtown in Miami, will illuminate in the colours of the Jamaican flag – black, green and gold, in celebration of Jamaica’s 48th anniversary of Independence and Emancipation.

The Miami landmark will remain lit throughout the weekend into Monday morning (August 9), as a tribute to the positive impact of the Jamaican community in South Florida.

Built in 1987, the 47-floor landmark tower is usually lit for special events in Miami. For the fourth consecutive year, the Jamaican community has been honoured with the significant gesture.
Jamaica’s Consul General, Sandra Grant Griffiths said that the ceremonial lighting is “a wonderful public gesture by corporate America, and specifically Bank of America.” She also expressed how much Jamaicans look forward to the annual event to see the Jamaican colours light up the skyline in Miami.

The lighting of the landmark Tower serve as a powerful symbol of the positive impact made by the presence of the Jamaican community, not only in Miami, but throughout South Florida. More than 500,000 Jamaicans reside in Florida State with the largest concentration in the South Florida tri-county area – Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Marlon Hill, the Jamaican Diaspora Board Member for the Southern USA, also lauded the event indicating that the significant gesture in downtown Miami is a reminder and symbol of hope for the people of Jamaica. “Our community is continuing to make its mark at varied levels across South Florida,” he told JIS News.