The Jonkonnu band was missing and the crowd looked obviously thinner this year, but the vibe was just as high as last year's Independence parade as old and young flooded the streets of Kingston and St Andrew to catch a glimpse of the elaborately decorated trucks and marching bands.

The costumed groups and bands provided a kaleidoscope of colours that poured through the streets as people from uptown and downtown, PNP and JLP seemed to forget what divided them for a moment and danced and celebrated in the streets - another milestone in independent Jamaica's history.

'A wi culture'

"Me glad fi see dem ting ya come back. A wi culture!" exclaimed Rose Reid, as the floats and costumed groups travelled down Hope Road from the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre into Half-Way Tree.

Reid had travelled from Spanish Town, St Catherine, with her three grandchildren just so they could experience what she often told them in stories.

"Last year when dem bring it back mi feel good," she continued.

"We want everything fi come back and mek the crime and violence stop," she told The Gleaner, underscoring that the absence of key cultural events such as these have helped to coarsen the society.

"A bet you nuh crime naah gwaan today," she said.

Travelled from mobay

That's a comment others shared.

"It's just a pity that we can't live loving all the time," one woman who said she travelled from Montego Bay with her grandson told our news team, as she watched the floats parade down Half-Way Tree Road.

"Jamaica is a such a beautiful place. It's just because of the violence," she said.

For others like 31-year-old Dwayne Palmer, the parade was an opportunity to engender in his five-year-old son a sense of pride in his country. He has vague but good memories of the Independence parade during his own childhood and wanted his son to experience the joy it brought him.

Independence Day Ceremony

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen gives his first Independence Day inpection of the Guard of Honour during celebrations at King's House yesterday.

Students from St Theresa Preparatory School perform at the Independence Day ceremony held at King's House yesterday.

This youngster from Emerald Pathfinder Club in May Pen has the attention of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen during the Independence Day ceremony at King's House yesterday.

Portia Simpson Miller, opposition leader, hugs students from St Theresa's Preparatory School after their performance at the Independence Day ceremony at King's House yesterday.

Left: Attending the Independence Day ceremony at King's House yesterday had its advantages. Just ask young Annadene Blake, who ran to hug a willing Prime Minister Bruce Golding during the festivities. Right: Charmaine Limonius performs 'I Believe' during Independence Day celebrations at King's House yesterday. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer