Born in St Ann’s Bay, Jamaica on August 17, 1887, The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey is undoubtedly a true Jamaican Patriarch and ‘son of the soil’. He is renowned worldwide as an ardent proponent of black pride, self-reliance, upliftment, empowerment and equality for all people of colour. The United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), the African Communities League and the Black Star Line Steamship Company are testament of his lasting legacies and give added credence to the phenomenal life, work and soul of this amazing Jamaican.
Garvey, a former Councillor of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation; and, being a Local Authority built on excellent traditions of service and good governance presented in 2012 the “Keys to the City of Kingston” to Jamaica’s first National Hero and proclaimed the 17th day of August each year to be dubbed Marcus Garvey Day in celebration of his life and work.
On this day and as we celebrate the 75th anniversary since his death, we honor one of our own, a former member of the KSAC who was committed to the cause of improving the human and social conditions for all Jamaicans.
“We are the arbiters of our own destiny. God and nature first made us what we are and then out of our own creative genius, we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always the great law.”
The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) honours the life and work of His Excellency, the Right Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a former member, one of our very own and salutes him today. His spirit lives on through his sons and his many ardent supporters. His work shall continue to echo through the ages, may his soul continue to rest in eternal peace.
Sincerely,
Her Worship the Mayor of Kingston
Sen. Cllr. Dr. Angela Brown Burke,