March for repatriation

Paul Williams, Gleaner Writer

Repatriation to Africa and reparation for the atrocities of slavery are two platforms on which some Rastafarians have been agitating for sometime now.

Whether they will be granted their wishes is the million-dollar question. Some people even dismiss their cause as the proverbial carrot held before the sweating mule; unattainable it is, they say.

Yet, the agitators are not letting up. On Monday morning, Emancipation Day, The Gleaner chanced upon a group from the Ethiopia Black International Congress from Bull Bay, St Andrew, clad mostly in white and black, chanting and marching to the beat of drums on King Street, in Kingston.

"We are here today agitating for freedom, redemption, international repatriation in commemoration of the 173rd anniversary of Emancipation," said Honourable Empress Esther, who halted the march to speak with The Gleaner.

She said the march was spearheaded by the Ethiopia Black International Congress Woman's Freedom Liberation League, "because we see the necessity for us as mothers to come with our children".

The effort, she said, was the fulfilment of a prophecy by King Emanuel Charles Edwards, founder of the Ethiopia Black International Congress, "where he called upon the daughters of Zion to go before, adorned in black over white, and weep for our children to return to Africa through repatriation."

Honourable Priest Christopher Morant chimed in: "This march is to commemorate I and I emancipation that has been granted, but not fully given to I and I, the people."

Emancipation is repatriation

Then he lay squarely on the table exactly what it is that he and his colleagues want. "This march is to bring about I and I emancipation, and with emancipation is repatriation. And we are here on behalf of I and I cause of right to go home with recompensation and free transportation to take I and I home to Africa."

Morant said the message for the day was "peace, perfect peace in this dark world of sin", and that he needed to go home as he spoke. He challenged the Government and other powers that be "to bring up the document that Emperor Haile Selassie I leave with the Jamaican Government in 1966". He was supported by Empress Esther who challenged the Government and the Opposition to go "to the table now and discuss repatriation and to prepare the way for our children to come out of Jamaica".

The march started at Victoria Pier where there was a short devotion, with stops at St William Grant and National Heroes parks, before heading to Hope Road, St Andrew.