To celebrate Jamaica’s 61st Independence Anniversary, the Consulate General of Jamaica, Miami is organizing its annual Thanksgiving and Celebration Ecumenical Service.
Slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, 2023, the service will take place at The Faith Center in Sunrise, Florida.
The program will be streamed on various platforms.
The sermon for this year’s service is set to be delivered by Pastor Karl Francis, the Senior Pastor of Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, with Rev. Norman Hemming, Associate Pastor of the Faith Place Church in Miramar, serving as the Officiating Minister.
Invitation from Consul General R. Mair: A call to Join the celebration
Relating to this year’s theme “Jamaica 61 – Proud and Strong”, Jamaican nationals and Diaspora friends are invited by Consul General R. Mair to join the worship service in honor of Jamaica’s independent nationhood.
Mr. Mair underscored the significance of this year’s theme, highlighting the nation’s achievements despite numerous challenges.
“We invite all Jamaicans to celebrate with pride the strength of our nation and of whom we are as a people,” he said.
According to CG Mair, there will be a pre-Service fellowship beginning at 2:45 p.m., featuring local gospel artistes and also refreshments.
The service agenda includes an official message from Jamaica’s Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ON, MP.
The service program will also feature performances by several renowned artistes. Gospel singer Glacia Robinson is set to perform, as are local groups like the South Florida Caribbean Chorale under Steve Higgins’ direction, Tallawah Mento Band led by Colin Smith, and the Jamaica Folk Revue, among others.
Will this be Mr Mair’s last hurrah?
The forthcoming event, eagerly awaited by many as a celebratory occasion for the nation within the region, has raised eyebrows among those speculating if this could be Mr. Mair’s final Florida celebration.
Such speculation comes in the wake of allegations that the United States Department of State has refused Jamaica’s request to extend diplomatic visas for four of its personnel currently stationed in America.
More on allegations of diplomatic visa extension denied by US
US reportedly denies diplomatic visa extension to Consul General Oliver Mair
According to Jamaican media reports, one of the diplomats affected by this decision is the Consul General to Miami, Oliver Mair.
Reports are that Mair is expected to depart from the US when his current five-year term concludes in October. Other persons impacted are individuals serving on diplomatic visas at various government agencies.
Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as they are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, disclosed to the Jamaica Gleaner that the Jamaican government sought extensions for the visas, but unfortunately had their request denied.
According to reports, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, remains unaffected by the US State Department’s 5-year policy. Also not impacted is Jamaica’s Consul General in New York, Alsion Wilson, who commenced her posting in August 2019.
The issue of diplomatic visa renewals for high-ranking Jamaican diplomats in the US has been a subject of attention in the news, with recent reports suggesting that the US State Department’s decision is linked to the Jamaican government’s refusal to grant diplomatic immunity to the spouse of a gay diplomat being assigned to the US Embassy in Kingston.
