CARICOM welcomes posthumous pardon of Jamaica’s first national hero

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – CARICOM Sunday expressed “its profound gratitude” to the outgoing Biden administration after it posthumously pardoned Jamaica’s national hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, after many years of campaigning.

In a statement, CARICOM chairman and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, said the pardon was "testament to the unwavering advocacy of CARICOM leaders, both individually and collectively, along with countless members of the diaspora, for the rectification of the unjust conviction of an ardent advocate for the rights and liberties of individuals of African descent.

"CARICOM extends its heartfelt congratulations to his son, Julius Garvey, and other members of his family, as well as to the Government and People of Jamaica, and all who honour the remarkable legacy of this extraordinary son of our region. His life and work continue to inspire and influence both within and beyond the Caribbean,” Mottley said.

Earlier, Jamaica welcomed the pardon with Prime Minister Andrew Holness hailed the announcement as a “proud and historic day” for Jamaica and that it was the “first step towards total exoneration”.

“As Prime Minister, I consider this clemency a first step toward the total exoneration and expungement of this historical injustice,” he added.

Opposition Leader, Mark Golden called the pardon a correction of a historic wrong stemming from “an illegal, intelligence-led operation” aimed at crippling Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

“President Biden’s action acknowledges the profound impact that Garvey had in shaping the narratives of freedom, equality, and justice,” Golding said.

As one of his last acts in office, Biden, on Sunday announced that the late civil rights leader was one of five people to receive a Presidential pardon.

The decision on Sunday from the outgoing Democratic leader follows sustained advocacy from several US lawmakers legislators, including Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus.

Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and Brooklyn representative, had led multiple calls for Garvey’s exoneration, arguing the conviction was a result of governmental misconduct aimed at discrediting the influential civil rights leader.

This post posthumous pardon comes 101 years after Garvey was convicted of mail-fraud in 1923 in a case marred by prosecutorial and governmental misconduct. He was sentenced to five-years' imprisonment – a sentence that was commuted by US President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.

Garvey is credited as the first man to organise a mass movement among African-Americans. He was also the founder of the Black Star Line shipping company and the pan-African UNIA.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.