[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19871]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF JAMAICA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate 
Jamaica on the forty-first anniversary of her Independence and the 
169th anniversary of emancipation in Jamaica and the Caribbean. I take 
pleasure in reflecting upon the magnitude of Jamaica's contribution to 
New York City, our nation, and the world and expressing my personal 
appreciation for the association I have had with Jamaica and its people 
over the years.
  I have been privileged to know and work with all of the Prime 
Ministers of Jamaica since my election to the Congress, beginning with 
Prime Minister Michael Manley's appeal for assistance to prevent 
retaliation by the U.S. Government in response to a justified increase 
in the royalty paid by U.S. aluminum companies for the exploitation of 
Jamaica's bauxite. I was privileged to work with Jamaican leaders in 
the creation and expansion of the Caribbean Basin Initiative which has 
in the last twenty years significantly increased the trade and 
commercial relationship between the U.S. and Jamaica and I continue to 
work in support of the Jamaican government's efforts to obtain U.S. 
government recognition of the need for special and differential 
treatment of small economies in the negotiation of the Free Trade 
Agreement of the Americas.
  Jamaica has produced extraordinary leaders from Marcus Garvey to 
Alexander Bustamente to Norman and Michael Manley who have 
significantly contributed to the historical global struggle for 
freedom, self-determination and human rights. I salute Jamaica on this 
anniversary and the great legacy it has created for us all.

                          ____________________