Their Excellencies The Governor-General and the Most Honourable Lady Allen joined the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at Up Park Camp on Friday, 29th July in the culmination of its anniversary celebration of service to Jamaica under the theme “Forward in Service: Celebrating 60 Years”.
In the first half of the two-part event, Sir Patrick, who is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, reviewed the Parade and presented thirty (30) soldiers with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and fifteen (15) received the Medal of Honour for General Service,
The second half of the event saw the JDF demonstrating its partnership with militaries across the Caribbean Region through the presentation of (pre-recorded) displays from the Barbados Defence Force Band and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra. There were also presentations from the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force Band and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Band.
In addition to the displays on the ground, Their Excellencies and other guests were treated to an extraordinary motorcycle display from the ‘JCF Daredevil Riders’ and a spectacular parachuting display from four members of the ‘Harpy Eagles’ of the Guyana Defence Force, who arrived by parachute during the celebrations.
In his Message to mark the 60th Anniversary, The Governor-General congratulated the JDF on the expansion of its training facilities through the establishment of the Caribbean Military Academy, the first of its kind in the Region. He also congratulated JDF for its disaster response capacity, strong regional and international collaborations and “invaluable role in protecting and defending the country’s borders”.