LIBERTY HALL CELEBRATES GARVEY’S 122^ND BIRTHDAY

On August 17, 2009, Liberty Hall organized two spectacular events in commemoration of the 122nd anniversary of Garvey’s birth. Over one hundred and fifty persons attended an unveiling ceremony held under the auspices of the Institute of Jamaica. Two objects memorializing Marcus Garvey were unveiled: the first was a bust of Garvey donated to Liberty Hall by Dr. Wykeham McNeill on behalf of his late father, Dr. Ken McNeill; the second was a historical storyboard erected in Liberty Hall’s garden by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Amongst the participants in the programme were: Senator Warren Newby, Parliamentary Secretary, who brought greetings on behalf of the Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Youth Sports and Culture; His Worship the Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie and Prof. Barry Chevannes, Chairman of the Council of the Institute of Jamaica, who delivered the address. Dr. McNeill and Colleen Douglas of the JNHT did brief overviews of the objects unveiled. The ceremony was chaired by Prof. Rupert Lewis, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica /Jamaica Memory Bank (ACIJ/JMB) and Friends of Liberty Hall Foundation. Apart from the unveiling, the highlight was the presentation of copies of the four volumes of Garvey’s 1923 mail fraud transcript to Liberty Hall by Ms. Laleta Davis-Mattis, Executive Director of the JNHT.

Later in the afternoon, the theatrical production of this year’s Summer ‘Arts’ Programme was staged at the Institute of Jamaica lecture hall. The production, held under the theme: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, featured drama, oratory, dance and audio visual effects. The cast was comprised of over fifty children ages seven to seventeen from the communities surrounding Liberty Hall. The Summer Art Programme has been held every year since 2004, usually focusing on the visual arts. It was the first time that Liberty Hall concentrated on the performing arts. The high quality of the production showed our ability to explore a wide range of artistic disciplines. This year the programme was sponsored by the Friends of Liberty Hall (FOLH) Foundation and Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

Pictorial Highlights from Liberty Hall’s Garvey Birthday Celebrations

Mr. Patrick Stanigar, Chairman, Board of Trustees of JNHT (right) unveils the historical storyboard as Prof. Lewis looks on.	Akwaaba Drummers performs in the garden prior to the start of the ceremony
One of the routines from LH’s  Summer Art Programme production: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER	One of the routines from  LH’s Summer Art Programme production:” KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.”
Sen. Warren Newby (left)  and Dr. Wykeham McNeill shake hands after the unveiling of the Garvey bust. Mrs. McNeill (2nd right), mother of Dr. McNeill looks on.