A crowded section of Hellshire beach in St. Catherine yesterday. A large number of people spent Independence Day at beaches across the island.
-Rudolph Brown photo
Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
JAMAICANS ACROSS the island seeking places to celebrate Independence Day yesterday opted for a variety of venues. Many went to church, some spent the day with family members at the country's numerous botanical gardens, and in authentic Jamaican holiday fashion, thousands flooded the island's beaches.
When The Gleaner visited the Hellshire and Fort Clarence beaches in St. Catherine about midday, the sand on both beaches was barely visible amid the large gathering of beach goers.
VARIOUS RACES
The holiday seemed to create equanimity among Jamaicans as people of various races frolicked harmoniously, side by side in the water creating an iridescent manifestation of the national motto, "out of many, one people".
Those who opted to stay out of the water were the targets of scores of pertinacious vendors offering a variety of goods for sale. Everything, from swimwear to fish, alcohol to phone cards could be purchased right on the beach.
GOOD BUSINESS
Sofia Thomas, a fish vendor with a stall on the Hellshire beach, said the holidays have been very lucrative for her. "Monday was very good. Today good so far, and it suppose to get better later in the evening," she said.
As loud dancehall music from a sound system set up on the lawns near the beach permeated the air, Richie, a soup vendor explained his satisfaction with the day's sales. "Everything nice man. Di people dem pack up di place. Mi little youth can go back a school because of Monday and today," he said.
Dalton Saunderson and his wife Suzanne said they went to the beach with their three children in the true spirit of the holiday. "Of all the holidays that we celebrate in this country, I make it a point to go out somewhere, anywhere, with my family at this time of the year, in recognition of the freedom which Emancipation and Indepen-dence bring," said Mr. Saunderson.
ENJOYING THE DAY
It was, however, evident that not all on the beach were interested in the reasoning behind the holiday, but were intent solely on enjoying the day. When asked about the significance of recognising the day that Jamaica gained independence, a patron of Fort Clarence beach who declined to give her name said, "Nuh badda wid di politics argument. Independence nuh do nothing fi me. Mi deh a beach a try enjoy miself an dat's all mi care bout right now."
