In Jamaica, Labour Day is about volunteerism and working together to grow our country and the communities within.
Labour Day was officially recognised in Jamaica in 1960. It spawned from the labour riots from May 23rd to June 6th of 1938, which signalled in a new era for the Jamaican working class.
In 1958, Empire Day (the birthday of Queen Victoria, which was observed throughout the Commonwealth on May 24th) was renamed Commonwealth Day. In Jamaica, by then, May 24th was already being celebrated informally as Labour Day.
Empire Day, yes... Empire Day, lmao... my, how times have changed.
In 1960, Norman Washington Manley, who was Premier of the country, presented a bill in Parliament which finally abolished Empire Day. A law to amend the Holiday Law was unanimously supported by the Legislative Council and May 23 was transformed to National Labour Day and officially marked the anniversary of the working class strikes in 1938.
In 1972, motivated by a desire to inspire national unity, late Prime Minister Michael Manley deployed the theme ‘Put Work into Labour Day’ and Labour Day as we know it now was born. Manley called on Jamaicans to understand the importance of labour to nation-building through voluntary community work.
The first national project was the Palisadoes Rd, now known as the Norman Manley Highway. His invitation to the nation resulted in a huge national response and over 600 projects sprung up across the island.
Since then, the government has used the holiday to appeal to national pride and to mobilise the nation. Various groups and individuals islandwide have planned projects like refurbishing schools, community centres, state institutions and other public and private buildings.
Modern Jamaican Labour Day themes have included a plethora of issues including health, youth in the community, respect for the elderly and disabled, road safety, climate change, agriculture, tree planting and even... Social Media and YouTube Safety 🤦♂
Thanks for reading what turned into a brief history lesson. Unfortunately, this year we have 3pm curfews all weekend due to the Rona virus, so I can't do much more than clean up around the house and my properties. And, maybe swing by the beach tomorrow morning and clean up a bit.
Hope you're enjoying the holiday weekend!
Peace ✌️
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