Attorney-at-law and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman, Donovan Williams is chiding Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding for inaccurately stating by way of a statement on Sunday that Marcus Garvey was exonerated by the United States Government.

Williams says it is important to note that Garvey was in fact issued with a posthumous pardon which is otherwise known as an act of clemency.

The Member of Parliament for Kingston Central noted that in a written statement which was entitled in part – ‘The Exoneration of Marcus Garvey’, the PNP president repeatedly stated that “Marcus Garvey’s exoneration corrects a grave historical miscarriage of justice” and also intimated that the development is “a triumphant acknowledgement of a legacy restored”.

Williams further noted that in an audio statement, Golding also said “we are claiming this as a complete exoneration of our national hero”.

“The fact is a pardon, while welcome, is only part of the process of clearing Garvey’s name and achieving full and unconditional exoneration of Jamaica’s first National Hero,” Williams clarified.
According to Williams, it is evident that the PNP president does not understand the fight to clear Marcus Garvey’s name.

Williams says Golding’s misleading statement indicates that he does not understand that a pardon is not an exoneration but references the act of forgiving for commission of an offence. Exoneration includes a full declaration of innocence, while acknowledging unjust prosecution.

“While the posthumous pardoning of Marcus Garvey, which has come following tireless lobbying by Prime Minister (Andrew) Holness, JLP chairman (Robert) Montague and ministers (Olivia) Grange and (Kamina) Johnson Smith, in collaboration with Marcus Garvey’s family, Diaspora stakeholders and members of the US Congress, is a step in the right direction – the work of the Jamaica Labour Party administration continues towards achieving the full and unconditional exoneration of Marcus Garvey”, Williams said.

“This is not the first time that the PNP president has issued hasty, historically inaccurate and misleading statements in what appears to be an inappropriate bid to take credit for a development which neither he or his party had anything to do with,” Williams said as he further chided Golding as “detached from history and the legacy of Marus Garvey”.

Williams says he is hopeful that the PNP president will reflect on the error and consider issuing an apology for what he labelled as misleading the country.

The JLP spokesman said it is sad that on a day when we should all be celebrating a positive development, the PNP president “in his apparent rush for glory has again demonstrated his unsuitability to lead Jamaica.”

Williams says it would also be good if Golding would also, on behalf of the PNP, express some contrition for what he said was the unjust prosecution of Marcus Garvey in 1930 by former PNP President, Norman Manley.