Above: Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen

Jamaican Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen says the service of Jamaicans both at home and in the diaspora is needed to “fix what is wrong with Jamaica.”

The Governor-General was in Washington this weekend for a celebration of Jamaica’s 49th anniversary of independence at Howard University’s Dunbarton Chapel.

“We must also believe in the potential for Jamaica to succeed [like our ancestors],” he told more than 400 Jamaicans assembled at the chapel. Jamaica had to become “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business,” he said.

Allen was joined by Jamaican Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks.

“Let us remind ourselves that 50 years from now, another generation will pause to celebrate the same independence,” Allen said. “All of us must do all that we can to ensure that they will have much to celebrate. That is our duty; that must be our commitment.”