JAMAICANS celebrating the country’s 64th anniversary of Independence are in for a showcase of resilience, creativity, and achievements, with today’s Grand Gala slated to feature more than 1,800 participants, reggae icon tributes, and a dazzling drone and fireworks display to end the evening’s festivities.

According to Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia Grange, the annual Grand Gala, to be hosted under the theme ‘United in Celebrating Resilience’, promises to highlight Jamaica’s history, its people’s triumph over tribulations, and to bring joy for those looking to enjoy an evening dedicated to Jamaican excellence.

Grange told a recent JIS think tank that the gala will feature a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Women in Service in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), and will also place spotlight on Kingston’s 10th anniversary as a designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Creative City of Music.