diGJamaica spans island's past and present

Jamaica's state of Independence is a condition that is taken for granted by most of the population, as according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, 80 per cent of the population was born after this landmark year.

But those who were around for the very first hoisting of the national flag and airing of the national anthem remember it as a quiet battle well fought.

This year, in the nation's 50th year of sovereignty, The Gleaner Company has launched a new website, diGJamaica.com that stretches into the collective memory of that special time and promises to level the playing field regarding access to information on Jamaica.

As The Gleaner's gift to Jamaica for Independence, diGJamaica captures the essence of eras gone by through slideshows and timelines. Information from older editions of The Gleaner has also been revisited through 'Voices of 1962', a vox pop from that year, and 'This Day in Our Past' which highlights past headlines from various years.

Full access

However, this gift is not just a trip down memory lane as users can now have full access to information and statistics provided by major private and public sector entities.

diGJamaica is meant to provide access to information and foster greater interest in factual information about Jamaica.

There is a data section that includes information from the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, the Development Bank of Jamaica and the various ministries and agencies. Users are empowered to get involved in the governance of their country and peruse official documents gleaned under the Access to Information Act and government papers.

Users can also contribute to the website by posting their events in the Calendar, submitting ideas for the website through the 'Suggest digs' feature, emailing the diGJamaica team at dig@digjamaica.com or becoming a part of its growing social media network on Facebook and Twitter.