Inside Looking Out: Weekly Photo Challenge – Heritage

‘This week, share a photo of something that says “heritage” to you.’

Normally I see Jamaica House – the office of the Prime Minister – from the outside looking in. Recently, I attended a meeting there and took this photo when I was leaving…standing at the entrance, looking out.

Around were the signs of activity associated with maintaining this government property, built after Independence in 1962. Mowing the lawns…

…installing a new fridge….

The building itself isn’t a particular favourite of mine, but the more than 50 years of Jamaican Independence are an essential part of what “heritage” means to me.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Heritage

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.#AToZChallengeJamaica – O is for Out of Many, One People

The Jamaican national motto is ‘Out of Many, One People’, and is based on the population’s multiracial roots.

The motto is inscribed in the scroll of the Jamaica Coat of Arms, and was adopted at the time of Independence in 1962. Prior to that, the motto in the Coat of Arms was in Latin –  Indus Uterque Serviet Uni. (The Indians twain shall serve one Lord). It was felt that this motto had no relevance to modern independent Jamaica, and I would have to agree.

Ministry Paper No. 20, dealing with proposed National Emblems, indicates that the decision to change the motto had been made, but a replacement hadn’t yet been selected.

The Ministry Paper was tabled in the House early in 1962.

 

Is our motto an existing reality, a guiding principle, an ideal to be aimed for?

To end, a verse from one of Louise Bennett’s poems – “Independence Dignity”, written at the time:

Teet’ an tongue was all united,

Heart an soul was hans an glove,

Fenky-fenky voice gain vigour pon

“Jamaica, land we love”.