Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Wednesday | June 10, 2009
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Woman looks back at 47 years of change
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer


Young Davian Henry (left) takes time out of his day to visit his friend Ajani Smith and his mother Millicent Williams, who was born in 1962. - Photo by Carl Gilchrist

Millicent Williams is one of thousands of Jamaicans born in the year of Jamaica's Independence.

She came into the world almost three weeks before on July 17, 1962, in Alexandria, St Ann.

Today, Williams lives in Brown's Town and, like many other Jamaicans, can attest to the fact that there have been many changes over the 47 years since the country gained Independence from Britain.

"In my 47 years, I have seen a lot of changes, both good and bad," Williams told The Gleaner.

"I used to go to school when Jamaica was using pound, shilling and pence and up to 1969 when they changed to dollars and cents, I was getting three pence for lunch and it serve (was enough). Nowadays, no matter how much money yuh have, because it devalue so much it can't even buy anything," Williams said.

Growing up in the '60s, a United States dollar was a rarity: "US dollar? We never used to see that," she recalled.

When the currency changed in 1969, she started getting one dollar for lunch and she was happy for the change - the dollar could buy much more than three pence could.

Gone, too, are the days when children used to trudge barefooted on rocky roads to school.

"Some of the roads are better now because you have asphalt."

Change in education

Another critical change for the better, Williams observes, is that of education, which she says is much more accessible today.

On the other hand, economic conditions have worsened as in Jamaica's infancy, survival was much easier and jobs could be had much more readily. The crime situation has also worsened significantly.

Overall, Williams believes Jamaica is worse off for having gained Independence.

"This Independence thing nah really work out because right now Jamaica can't even manage itself. We have to be depending on other countries," Williams said.

Jamaica Celebrates

The Gleaner, which by 1962, had already witnessed and reported more than a century of the island's history, teams up with Jamaica National Building Society, currently celebrating its 135th anniversary, and the Institute of Jamaica for Jamaica Celebrates.

CALLING THE CLASS OF 1962

If you:

✓ Were born in 1962;

✓ Got married in 1962;

✓ Got your first job in 1962;

✓ Graduated from school in 1962; or,

✓ Had any other significant milestone in the year of Independence, then you belong to the Class of 1962.

Tell us your story and send your photographs …

to Jamaica Celebrates - Building Our Nation, Our Family, Our Home; editorial@gleanerjm.com, or mail them to Kerry-Ann Hepburn, Jamaica Celebrates, The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston.

You may also log on to our website at www.jamaica-gleaner.com for more information, or call Kerry-ann Hepburn at 922-3500, extension 6419.

I used to go to school when Jamaica was using pound, shilling and pence and up to 1969 when they changed to dollars and cents, I was getting three pence for lunch and it serve (was enough).

Building Our Nation, Our Family, Our Home

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