Today is National Labour Day.
Jamaica's Labour Day holiday, which was first observed in 1961, is not in September as in many other countries. Norman Manley as premier of Jamaica saw the need to create the holiday, and also the need to abolish the old Empire Day celebration on May 24.
Labour Day, however, is one day earlier than the old Empire Day because May 23 is the anniversary of the modern labour movement in Jamaica.

For the first 10 years of the celebration there were trade union marches and rallies.
In 1972 Michael Manley, as prime minister, asked Jamaicans to observe Labour Day by identifying a community project and doing some manual work to demonstrate the dignity of labour.

Treasure Beach, by the grace & diligent work of neighbours, always seems a bit cleaner and more purposeful on National Labour Day.

Greek Proverb: A society grows when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.

Observer Article-Read More @:
www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Workers-and-co-operatives_14304127


"The theme of Labour Day this year calls on us to 'Lend a Hand, Build our Land'.
This is a timely theme as it causes us to remember our responsibility to support our fellow citizens as part of the national project of building our nation." (Lisa Hanna-Minister of Youth & Culture)

...National Workers Week, (also) being celebrated this week. Labour Day activities will focus on helping the vulnerable in society.

Gleaner: Inspiring The Youth To Make Use of Labour Day
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130523/news/news2.html

Hi Rebecca...Miraculously, you are usually the "steady cam" on the scene to record so many key activities around the community...as they're happening. We can almost imagine you using drone cameras, in the future, controlled from the comfort of home or a beach hammock, to record multiple events at different scenes.

Could you mention any local "community projects" which might have brought about some concerted effort on Labour Day, and which your may have photographed?
We note that in other parts of St Bess, as in our villages, "pot-hole" patching has become a local self-help project!

Increasingly in recent years, residents in some communities have been pooling resources on Labour Day to patch pot-holed roads, and yesterday residents of Holt District and Beadle Boulevard in Santa Cruz were among those patching their roads.

The Social Development Commission, mentioned in various threads on TB.Net for their promotion of Accommodations Co-ops, Master Planning, and the "airing out" of concerns and liaising with government agencies for improvements, is reported as having participated in a project on the North Coast.
The SDC seems to have a lot on their plate, in committee activities throughout the Island, or is the proper cliché too many irons in the fire?

St Elizabeth Puts Work Into Labour Day
www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/St-Elizabeth-puts-work-into-Labour-Day_14323417

Even the old man has to plant a seed. Takes about a year to have a tree ready to transplant.

Get an old paint pan with soil and push in your fruit seed/s of choice this weekend, skip a TV show. Protect.