The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation Municipal Christmas Tree was lit during a ceremony held at St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston, on Wednesday evening. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
ON WEDNESDAY evening, members of the downtown Kingston community came out in their hundreds to observe the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) Municipal Christmas Tree lighting at St. William Grant Park.
The annual event is a tradition that dates back 53 years, starting in 1952. The ceremony, which marks the official launch of the Christmas season downtown Kingston, was punctuated with a number of Christmas-themed performances, as well as a speech by the evening's guest speaker, Leader of the Opposition Bruce Golding.
Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie officiated the lighting ceremony, and his wife Marcia performed the actual switching on of the lights.
The tree, which was locally grown, will act as an attraction for shoppers and visitors, explained Mayor McKenzie.
"Despite the social and economic trials of the past, we are able to provide a tree of the highest quality to remind everyone that downtown Kingston is still the most important piece of real estate in Jamaica," he said. He added that despite the economic constraints, the KSAC had made every effort to ensure that the park is illuminated.
SYMBOL OF HOPE
"The tree is a symbol of hope in the future of the city, and its ability to rise again", he affirmed. As such, the mayor implored the downtown community to treat the park and the tree with the respect and honour they deserve.
"As long as we can come here each Christmas to turn on these lights, in harmony and friendship, there will be hope for us, our city and Jamaica, and we can still look to next year with optimism," said the mayor.
