THE EDITOR, Sir:
LAST SATURDAY night I had a most exhilarating experience as a Jamaican - I attended the JMA/JEA Expo 2006 at the National Arena and my fervent wish is that every Jamaican, both at home and abroad, could have been privileged to visit this exhibition. If ever an event was, not only timely, but also necessary, to bring home to our people what a great nation we are, this was it.
I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone, down to the humblest handy person who was in any way responsible for that first-class presentation, which lasted over three days. I am informed that various schools also attended and I think that was an excellent idea because it is vital that the justification for national pride be instilled in our young minds.
However, that was not the only source of Saturday night's pride to me as a Jamaican. As I drove home from the Arena, I reflected on the numerous activities taking place that very night - there was another exhibition, the Wellness Exhibition, taking place at Emancipation Park, there were about four plays currently running in different theatres in the Corporate Area, including the Pantomime, there was a Male and Female Body Beautiful Competition at the Girl Guides headquarters, all over the city were hordes of persons going about, delightfully turned out, obviously enjoying themselves.
I also saw evidence of what appeared to be several house parties taking place, as well as music blaring from sidewalk speakers as I motored home - in other words, for a moment I had nostalgic reflections of a Kingston Saturday night where relaxation and enjoyment were the order of the day, and I wishfully dreamed that nights like Saturday, April 29, 2006 would become the pattern of things to come.
I am, etc.,
HOWARD HAMILTON Q.C.
Kingston
