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Happy birthday, USA

Published:Sunday | July 10, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Seeing eye to eye? We would love to be a fly on the shoulders of Contractor General Greg Christie (left) as he raps with Finance Minister Audley Shaw. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater cuts her country's Independence Day cake with Deputy Prime Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh.
There's a bag of laughs among (from left) Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Barbara Gloudon and Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner Dr Iva Gloudon.
United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater and husband Rev Russell Awkard (centre) welcome Deputy Prime Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh to the 4th of July Independence celebration, held at the Embassy Complex, Old Hope Road on Monday.
Enjoying the festivities are (from left) Chris Nakash, Muna Issa, and Kamaal Azan.
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Unless you're absolutely out of it, you know when it's the fourth of July.

No matter where they may be in the world, citizens of the United States of America celebrate that special day in their country's history with gusto. And was no different in Jamaica as the doors of the Liguanea-based embassy opened up last Monday not to welcome visa applicants, but guests to the Independence Day event.

Security was airtight, as usual, but once inside, guests were made to feel right at home. Inside the atrium, guests were offered tours of the various artwork on display, as well as two tiers of bar space.

The theme of the occasion was 'A Call to Service' - a theme that Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater said reinforced the challenge of President Barack Obama. She said that service was at the core of good citizenship and that it was a hallmark of the US, and one of the many values shared with Jamaica. She underlined some of the various areas of co-operation between the two nations through agencies such as the USAID.

Responding for the Government, Dr Kenneth Baugh called the US a long-standing friend, and confidently expressed that relations were as strong as ever between the two nations. The astute Baugh pointed out that this was indeed the first celebration as head of mission for Ambassador Bridgewater and so there was an extra-special feel to the event. Maurice Gordon and his band then entertained guests.

Guests out included new Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, Information Minister Daryl Vaz, Venezuelan Ambassador Noel Martinez, Spanish Ambassador Celsa Nuño and husband Alex Crowther, Nigerian High Commissioner Peter Oyedele, Arnold and Patricia Foote, Max Alce, Peter Makwarela, Enzo Barra, Drs Dhiru and Laura Tanna, J. Lester Spaulding, Carrole Guntley, Joe Adduci, Tess-Marie Leon, Allison Peart, Nadine Molloy Young, Kay Osborne, Errol and Paulette Brennan, Dennis Chung, H.G. Helps, John Azar, Col Rocky Meade, and Dr Michael Banbury.