The Editor, Sir:

I was 11 years old when Jamaica gained Independence in 1962. For some years thereafter, the first public performance of the national anthem and accompanying film was shown at cinemas islandwide. It was also shown on the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) when signing on and signing off - in black and white in those days. I remember it vividly. Why it stuck in my mind was that one of my sisters (then a Girl Guide) was shown in it.

Lately, my interest was revived on a request made by my niece who said that her mother (my sister-in-law) was also featured in it. My niece, who lives in Canada, asked me to obtain a copy. This added impetus to my latent urge to acquire a valuable piece of our birthright to show my relatives and my children.

Not easy to obtain

I thought that, surely, this important part of our young nation would be easy to obtain, probably easier than obtaining a copy of TVJ's Olympic Highlights.

But this soon proved to be an illusion. I have spent almost three months, on and off, trying to trace where a copy could be obtained - without success.

I tried the Jamaica Information Service, the Jamaica Archives & Records Department and the Jamaica Library Service. I also made contact with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and the Creative Production & Training Centre. Also on the list of those contacted was the Public Broadcasting Corporation on Jamaica, the National Library of Jamaica and the Institute of Jamaica. All without success.

I have been referred to entities I never knew existed. One of the most promising leads I got was to check the Palace Amusement Company Limited which operated most of the island's cinemas at that time, and still do.

Also seeking copy

I was referred to a Mr Chung, chief engineer/technician at Palace Amusement. He was kind enough to return my call but intimated that he, too, had been seeking a copy as one of his colleagues was also interested in getting one as, believe it or not, one of his relatives was also featured in it.

Sadly, Mr Chung indicated that he joined Palace in the early '80s and it appears that all of Palace's copies had been destroyed or lost.

Now, sir, it would be a real pity if such a germane part of our cultural history was indeed lost to posterity.

Could anyone or institution assist me in obtaining a copy of the very first National Anthem film? I (and the nation?) would be eternally grateful.

I am, etc.,

EGERTON CHANG

e_rider69@hotmail.com