St Ann heritage foundation welcomes Garvey pardon, renews call for honourary doctorate

The St Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation has welcomed the presidential pardon granted to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica’s first National Hero.

The pardon, issued earlier this month by then-US President Joe Biden, came more than 101 years after Garvey’s 1923 conviction for mail fraud—a case that has long been criticized for its racial and political overtones.

Lance Neita, chairman of the foundation, stated that the organisation has long advocated for the pardon and now looks forward to achieving a complete exoneration of Garvey’s conviction in the United States.

Neita also shared that the foundation plans to renew its 2014 proposal to universities in Jamaica for the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters on Garvey.

Additionally, the foundation has submitted a proposal to the St Ann Municipal Corporation to name a designated space in St Ann’s Bay as Marcus Garvey Square.

Founded in 2009, the foundation is a non-profit organisation comprised of civic-minded individuals dedicated to fostering pride in the heritage, achievements, and attractions of St Ann.

The organisation honours Garvey as its most distinguished parishioner and has established a Garvey Centre at the parish library, which serves to educate and inform Jamaicans about his history, philosophy, and contributions to the upliftment of people of colour worldwide.

The foundation also hosts an annual Garvey Lecture at the library, co-sponsored by Discovery Bauxite.

The 14th annual lecture is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2025

- Carl Gilchrist

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