Yvette Clarke - File

Devon Evans, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Ocho Rios:

United States Congresswoman Yvette Clarke will be visiting the island in August as a special guest of the St. Ann Homecoming and Heritage Committee (SAHHC).

Congresswoman Clarke is the daughter of celebrated Jamaican-born U.S. Councilwoman Una Clarke, and is the representative for Brooklyn, New York.

Congresswoman Clarke will deliver the main address at a gala fund-raising banquet of the St. Ann Homecoming and Heritage Committee, to be held at the Hibiscus Lodge Motel in Ocho Rios on Friday, August 17.

The event will coincide with the birthday anniversary of National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey and will also culminate a planned week of activities in honour of Garvey, who was born in St. Ann.

Historic elevation

At the black-tie banquet, Congresswoman Clarke will be honoured for her historic elevation to the U.S. Congress.

She will be accompanied on her trip to Jamaica by her mother Una.

This is the third annual banquet of the SAHHC, proceeds from which are going towards the establishment of the Marcus Garvey Resource Centre in St Ann's Bay.

The centre will be located on the grounds of the St. Ann Parish Library - where a statue of Marcus Garvey was erected 31 years ago - and will be equipped with audio/visual and print material on the life and work of Garvey.

Patron of the SAHHC and Custos of St. Ann, Radcliffe Walters, said the facility will serve to educate people about the philosophy and activities of Marcus Garvey and will also be used as the headquarters for an academic and social-outreach programme targeting at-risk male youths in the area.