Linstead honours four residents

LINSTEAD, St Catherine: FOUR OUTSTANDING citizens of Linstead, St Catherine, were honoured by the community during the inaugural staging of ‘Black Togetherness’.

The award ceremony, held on Sunday at Rose Duncan Park in Linstead Square under the patronage of councillor Hubert Garriques, was in observance of Black History Month celebrated in February.

The event, spearheaded by community activist Renaldo Garriques, singled out veteran educator Hansel White, whose contribution spanned more than 50 years; Denise Daley, a member of parliament, for her role in the educational and political advancement of Linstead over five decades; Ronald ‘Jah Privy’ Clarke, for his contribution to the development of culture, in particular reggae music for 60 years; and Clement Dawes, for advancing football as a coach.

“All these persons have left their mark on the community in big ways and this is our way of telling them that they are our heroes,” said Renaldo Garriques.

BLACK HISTORY

“We think it was fitting to do this during Black History Month since, as black people, they have all wrote their pages in the history of Linstead in various ways,” he continued.

Daley, in accepting her award, seized the moment to condemn the skin-bleaching culture practised by some Jamaicans.

“Black History Month should be celebrated every other month with an emphasis on raising black consciousness, because I have never seen so many young men and women who dislike their skin colour the way I see it in Jamaica today,” said Daley.

“We need to empower our young people and educate them to resist this level of backwardness.”