Minister of Culture and Entertainment Olivia Grange says the time has come for the US government to exonerate Jamaica's first National Hero, Marcus Garvey.

She says as Jamaica celebrates Reggae and Black History Month, it is the Government of Jamaica's position that Garvey should be absolved.

 

Her call comes 100 years after charges were laid against Garvey for mail fraud.

 

Miss Grange is urging Jamaicans to sign a new petition seeking 100,000 signatures on the website www.justice4garvey.org, which is to be taken to US President Joe Biden.

 

She notes that Jamaica passed the National Heroes and Other Freedom Fighters (Absolution from Criminal Liability in Respect of Specified Events) Act in 2018. 

 

The Act absolved them of criminal liability in recognition of their sacrifice to win the freedoms we now enjoy in our democracy.