THE house in which National Hero Marcus Garvey grew up in St Ann’s Bay, St Ann, will be refurbished and transformed into a heritage site.

This was outlined in a message from Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna during a ceremony to commemorate the 128th birthday of Jamaica’s first national hero, held on the compound of the St Ann Parish Library in St Ann’s Bay on Monday.

Read by councillor for the Beecher Town Division of the St Ann Parish Council, Ian Bell, the minister’s message noted that the property on which the house is located was declared a protected site in 1992, as the Government moved to ensure that the legacy and history of Marcus Garvey is preserved.

“The Ministry of Youth and Culture remains committed to preserving the legacy of this outstanding Jamaican as we are ready to start plans to refurbish the house of Jamaica’s first national hero and transforming it into a heritage site,” Hanna said.

“We want to create an environment where Jamaicans at home and abroad can visit and pay tribute to a man who left a great legacy. It was he who said that ‘a people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots’. Let us continue to embrace our rich cultural heritage and pass on the memories and traditions to the next generation,” she added.

Hanna said the celebration of Marcus Garvey’s 128th birthday and the 51st year of being named a national hero present an opportunity for the sharing of cultural heritage among the youth.

“Culture is a critical component of who we are as a nation,” the minister emphasised.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Member of Parliament for St Ann North Eastern Shahine Robinson; Custos of St Ann Norma Walters and Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Councillor Desmond Gilmore.

— JIS