A 1950s picture of Water Square in historic Falmouth, Trelawny. This is the National Labour Day Project for 2006. This year's theme is 'Jamaica's Beauty - Our Duty'. - CONTRIBUTED
FALMOUTH, Trelawny:
LABOUR DAY is as old as our independence. It started in 1961 when the then Prime Minister, the late Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley, abolished Empire Day and replaced it with Labour Day, using May 23, in celebration of the May 23, 1938 uprising of the labour force lead by Sir Alexander Bustamante.
What was previously celebrated was Empire Day given by the colonial masters to celebrate their perceived freedom of slavery. Jamaican schools were mandated to participate in flag-raising ceremonies to expound the virtues of British rule by singing the British National Anthem and other patriotic songs of Britain.
The architect of the Labour Day movement in which we, 'Put Work Into Labour Day' was pioneered in 1972 by the then Prime Minister, the late Most Hon. Michael Manley. He requested and led his huge following to do voluntary work to help worthy causes across the island; this instantaneously became a huge success.
CENTRED ON A THEME
In 1989 Labour Day work became centred on a theme and therefore the random work was now symbolised around a single focus. A national and parish projects were also instituted.
This year the theme is, 'Jamaica's Beauty - Our Duty' and the national project is the refurbishing of the Falmouth Water Square. MP for the area, Dr. Patrick Harris says the intention is to end the work on Labour Day therefore work has started to achieve this. The MP is reporting cooperation from private owners in the square who will also be in on the project. Hundreds of persons are expected to descend on the square to work.
- R.M.
