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JA ALL DAY: MP Dawn Butler at the 'Voice' and JN Bank-hosted charity dinner and auction in honour of Usain Bolt, Glen Mills and the Racers charity (image credit: Rod Leon)

AS 'THE Voice' newsroom counts the days until this year's I Love Jamaica Day family festival, our Vic Motune spoke with MP Dawn Butler about the event (which is happening in her constituency of Brent in north west London) and her thoughts on Jamaica's contribution to the world.

Q: I Love Jamaica Day takes place this weekend. How important are events like this in highlighting the contribution made to the country by Jamaican immigrants of the Windrush generation?

A: Brent is the most diverse constituency in Europe and it is vital for community cohesion and understanding that we have these events.

I think it’s vital to celebrate the great country of Jamaica and the huge contribution Jamaicans have made to this country. Jamaicans’ contribution to the UK goes back centuries - many Jamaicans served bravely in the war and worked incredibly hard to build a future for themselves and contributed to the country in so many different ways. One of the most famous generations is the Windrush generation - people who came here by request and [in the main] only planned to stay for five years.

As a daughter of Jamaica myself I look forward to these events with pride, as it's an opportunity for [the] Jamaican diaspora to come together in celebration and joy. They are fun, inclusive events for the wider community and I hope people enjoy themselves.

Q: Jamaica is 55 this year. Do you think this year’s independence celebrations will be particularly important in terms of highlighting that contribution?

A: Well having organised Jamaica 50 there’s a lot to live up to - hee hee! Jamaica's Independence Day is always important and I look forward to it every year with great excitement. On this big occasion there is an opportunity to highlight a particular issue, and given everything that has been going on in this political climate recently, I feel there is no better time to highlight the contribution of Jamaican expats - and indeed expats or as others like to say, 'migrants' of all backgrounds - to the UK.

Q: There are some who say that Jamaica is not a large country but it is a cultural super power in terms of its influence on so many areas of life. Do you feel that is true?

A: Absolutely. There’s a great Jamaican saying - 'we are likkle but we are tallawah'. It means that although Jamaica may be small, its tall, big, strong, fearless, determined, and refuses to be restrained by boundaries or preconceived notions. Jamaica punches way above its weight in terms of influence around the world.

The area that I represent, Brent, is the most diverse constituency in Europe with people from all around the world and so many languages, yet everyone I meet knows about Jamaica. We have the most Jamaicans in Brent than any other area. If you look at the influence of Jamaican people and its culture around the world - whether it's in music, athletics, food or other areas - it is clear to see that Jamaica is a cultural superpower and that makes me so proud. We must continue to celebrate and build on that.

Q: Do you feel that enough recognition in the UK is given to the fact Jamaicans travelled to this country as part of the Windrush generation after the war to help rebuild Britain and help it become the rich country that it now is?

A: I do not think there is enough recognition given, particularly as time passes, which is why we must keep working hard to remind people. A lot of attention is given, both in education and in my area of politics, to the massive post-war reconstruction efforts in this country, however I don't think the role of Jamaicans and the Windrush generation in particular to those reconstruction efforts is stressed enough. That is why it's so important to educate our young people, and to keep holding events to remind people of these efforts. There is no doubt that Jamaican expats contributed hugely to the growth of the economy and the recovery of this country, and that must be celebrated and valued to the fullest.

I will keep working towards that aim, as I know others will too.

Q: Recent months have seen leading figures question the strength of the Caribbean community in the UK. At a recent meeting of the British Caribbean Association, MP David Lammy said that the influence of Caribbean organisations in the UK was declining. Do you feel that events like I Love Jamaica can play a role in preserving and celebrating Jamaican heritage and culture?

A: Yes, these events can be so vital, in not only preserving Jamaican culture, but celebrating and growing it.

The Caribbean community is strong with people of Caribbean backgrounds making great contributions to this country in all areas, but there is no doubt that we can be even stronger and even more united. This would be to the benefit to the whole Caribbean community.

We must ensure that on all matters both local and national, that the voice of Caribbean people and their interests are heard loud and clear, and that we cannot be ignored. One of the ways we can do this is through the influence of strong Caribbean organisations. I will continue working with groups and organisations with this in mind.

The UK has historically had a special relationship with Jamaica - this has increasingly felt like it is one way with little benefit to Jamaica. I think the time has come to renew this special relationship in a real and meaningful way.

I Love Jamaica Day takes place on Sunday July 30, from 12 noon-6pm at Capital City Academy, Doyle Gardens, Willesden, London NW10 3ST. Adult tickets cost £7 and children’s (between 5-12 years old) tickets are £3 - under 5s are free. free. To secure tickets, click here. For further information call 020 7708 6614 or email: ilovejamaicaday@janouk.com. Please note that on-site parking will be available and I Love Jamaica Day is an alcohol-free event.

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