Share Knowledge of Garvey

As the international community marks the 123rd anniversary of the birth of Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey today (Aug.17), Chairman of the St. Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation, Herbert Murdock is urging residents of the parish to share their knowledge of the National Hero with their children and grandchildren.
“We need to tell our children and grandchildren that Marcus Garvey rose from humble beginnings in this town of St. Ann’s Bay to be a powerful international leader, who inspired millions to believe in themselves and in their ability to rise above their crippling circumstances,” he said.
“We need to tell our children and grandchildren that, in many respects, Garvey was a trailblazer committed to the advancement of ordinary Jamaican workers and devoted to the upliftment of his race and all people of colour,” Mr. Murdock added.

Governor -General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (2nd left), is greeted by President of the Methodist Church in Jamaica, Rev. Everald Galbraith (left) on his arrival at the St. Ann’s Bay Methodist Church on Sunday (Aug. 15) for the service of thanksgiving to mark the 123rd anniversary of the birth of National Hero, Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. The function was organised by the St. Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation. The background are wife of the Governor- General, Her Excellency Lady Allen and Chairman of the Homecoming Foundation, Herbert Murdock.

He was speaking at a service of thanksgiving and celebration to mark the special anniversary held on Sunday (Aug.15) at the St. Ann’s Bay Methodist Church. Among those in attendance were their Excellencies, The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen.
Mr. Murdock further encouraged persons to become intimately acquainted with the opinions, dreams and insights of Marcus Garvey, and to learn from what the National Hero preached.
He informed that the Foundation has been lobbying the Government to make official, legal representation to the American Government, to expunge from their judicial records “the trumped-up criminal charges and conviction of Marcus Garvey.”
The body is also collaborating with the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) to establish a Marcus Garvey Resource Centre on the upper floor of the expanded St. Ann Parish Library.
The facility, which is slated to open soon, will be a repository of print and electronic source materials that will facilitate serious enquiry about, and objective evaluation of the contributions of Marcus Garvey to the social, political, religious and cultural fabric of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, the Americas, Africa and elsewhere, Mr. Murdock said.
Turning to other projects being undertaken by the Foundation, he mentioned a tutorial and mentoring programme for children at the St. Ann’s Bay Primary School. He said that the programme, which targets boys who were academically challenged or average in their performance, is going well.
The boys are normally selected at the grade four level, where they receive the necessary assistance and interventions to pass the Grade Four Literacy Test and to ensure that they are better prepared for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).
“We are happy to report that nine boys took the (Grade Four) test in May 2008 and all nine passed. Some excelled with perfect scores in some sections of the test,” Mr. Murdock told the gathering.
He said that the boys went on to perform well in the GSAT this year and were placed in various local high schools. The programme would be continuing in October with a new set of boys selected for the three-year stint.