Two sisters who were living on land said to be Marcus Garvey’s birthplace have been provided with houses, apparently clearing the way for a museum to the National Hero, in St Ann’s Bay.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness presented the houses to the sisters, in Seville Heights, about three miles from where they lived at Marcus Garvey Way, formerly Market Street, St Ann’s Bay.
Sisters, Jacinth and Carla Johnson received the keys to their new two-bedroom houses in Seville Heights, St. Ann, from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, after a ceremony Monday, December 19.
The houses, each constructed at a cost of approximately $8 million, were provided under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), in collaboration with the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT). JIS reports that this was to facilitate the relocation of the Johnson sisters, who occupied the boyhood home of Jamaica’s First National Hero Marcus Garvey, in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann.
Giving the keynote address, the Prime Minister said that while the housing developments did not fit all the standard criteria under the NSHP, special arrangements were made to have the units constructed as a project of national interest.
Mr. Holness underscored that Marcus Garvey’s philosophy, work and fight for equality helped pave the way for the liberation of an entire race worldwide, and in that regard his legacy deserved to be monumentalised.
“In any other country, a figure like Marcus Garvey, whose work, philosophy and leadership contributed significantly to the liberation of an entire race of people, his boyhood home would be a Mecca, a place where people from all over the world, particularly people of African descent, would come to see where it is that he drank water, mixed with the people, had the culture infused and the life experiences from which he was able to generate with great eloquence and clarity of thought,” he said.
The Prime Minister urged Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, to ensure that the museum will be “a first-class museum that reflects Garvey’s vision and world outlook.
For her part, Minister Grange said with the relocation of the occupants of Garvey’s boyhood home, the Government will now take full possession of the property.
“This has been made possible because of the cooperation of two of the Johnson sisters. Today, we can celebrate with them as they, as part of the process, are able to own their own home,” Ms. Grange said.
Jacinth Johnson expressed gratitude to the Government for making her dream of owning a house a reality.
Carla, who cried tears of joy as she stepped into her new house, said she was grateful to finally have a place to call her own.
People have been visiting Garvey’s birthplace where three Johnson sisters once lived. However a proper structure could not be erected there because of claims by family members and the sisters
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Sisters, Jacinth (left) and Carla Johnson (right) show off the keys to their new homes in Seville Heights, St Ann, that were officially handed over to them by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, on Monday, December 19, under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). The Government is now to take charge of the property on which they lived for the construction of a Museum to National Hero Marcus Garvey.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (fifth left), cuts the ribbon to officially hand over a two-bedroom unit in Seville Heights, St. Ann, to Jacinth Johnson (third left), on Monday, December 19.
Also sharing the moment (from left) are Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange; Deputy Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Dallas Dickenson; Member of Parliament for St. Ann North East and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Marsha Smith, and Chair, HOPE Project Oversight Committee, Judith Robb-Walters. Jacinth’s sister Carla also received keys to her house.
Photos by JIS/Nickieta Sterling
