Story Highlights

• My fellow Jamaicans, at home and abroad, and friends of Jamaica. Lady Allen and I join with you as we celebrate our fifty-fifth year as an independent nation.
• Though not perfect, our democracy and the freedoms we enjoy have been a standard for many countries across the world to emulate.
• I wish for you a time of joyous celebration blended with sober contemplation of our journey thus far, and above all, a commitment to making the coming years even better than the past.