KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, says that by tabling the ‘National Heroes and Other Freedom Fighters (Absolution from Criminal Liability in Respect of Specified Events) Act, 2017’, the government is facilitating the need for Jamaicans to show appreciation for the efforts of their national heroes.

“It is this that we are doing by tabling this Bill – provide a situation for an entire nation to appreciate the kind of mind that our ancestors had, and the remarkable ability and tenacity they displayed,” Grange told the House of Representatives, today, as she opened the debate on the long anticipated Bill days away from the celebration of National Heroes Week.

She added that the Bill gives new life to the heroes and unsung heroes, and “seeks to redress the wrongs and set the captives free”.

The Bill seeks to “absolve certain National Heroes” Samuel Sharpe, George William Gordon, Paul Bogle and Marcus Garvey, as well as their “supporters, sympathisers and participants by association, and other freedom fighters”, from criminal liability arising from their participation in: the 1760 Tacky’s or St Mary Rebellion; the 1831- 1832 Christmas Rebellion; the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion; and the 1929 campaign of Garvey’s People’s Political Party (PPP), and to provide for connected matters”.

Grange also expressed appreciation to a number of people and entities whom, she said, have played supportive roles in the processes that has been followed leading up to the drafting and tabling of the Bill.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Ronald Thwaites, said that there is a moral and a political basis for the Parliament seeking to rectify the situation “with unanimity and strong feeling”.

He said that the legislation was enabling something that is “appropriate and valid in law”.

“There is a legal as well as amoral imperative to act. We are the highest court in the land, and it is of great importance that we should do what we are doing,” he said.

The debate is expected to resume in the House of Representatives, next week.

Balford Henry