Sam Sharpe monument gets unwanted coat of green paint
JNHT calls for stronger security to protect national monuments
Published:Tuesday | March 25, 2025 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Lorna Bailey, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust’s (JNHT) director of public education, public relations and communication, is calling for greater security protection of national monuments after the Sam Sharpe monument in Montego Bay, St James, was partly covered with green paint by an unknown person or persons.
The monument, created to immortalise National Hero Samuel Sharpe, it one of the revered symbols in downtown Montego Bay as visitors to the island are regular seen there taking photographs, either hugging the statues or using them as backdrop.
“We might have to look closely at measures that we can put in place to guard and keep these monuments safe. We want persons to be able to go stand beside a monument and take a photograph, but at the same time, we have to protect them, and we will have to discuss it at length and see what measures we can put in place to protect the monuments,” Bailey told The Gleaner, hours after the vandalism took place.
According to reports coming from the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), the vandals poured green paint all over the memorial statues which are located in Sam Sharpe Square at the intersection of St James Street and Market Street. Neither the identity of the perpetrators nor the motive for the vandalism has been determined.
Bailey said that while representatives from the JNHT are preparing to perform restoration work on the statues, the act of vandalism underscores the need for public education on the need to protect Jamaica’s national monuments.
“This is not something we get on a regular basis, but it does happen. From time to time, we beef up our public education campaign, and sensitise persons as much as possible on how to really take care of the national monuments that are there... they are there for a reason,” said Bailey.
“We are going to see how quickly we can get the statues restored because they look horrible. It hurts my heart to see that somebody really took paint and did that, knowing the struggles our ancestors have gone through, and the statues are there as a testament and reminder of the struggles of ‘Daddy Sharpe’,” continued Bailey, referencing the national hero by his nickname.
Meanwhile, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon, who is also chairman of the StJMC, told The Gleaner that the statues, which were originally unveiled on October 16, 1983, were fenced in 2023 to minimise the potential for vandalism.
“The StJMC informed the JNHT of the situation earlier today [Monday], and our team was asked to allow the JNHT to do an immediate assessment, with an intent to restore [the statues] before any other action is taken,” said Vernon. “I recall having to address a similar situation before, but not of this magnitude. The risk of tampering was also the reason we had to install grilles a few years ago to reduce that likelihood.”
Under Section 17 of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act, anyone who wilfully defaces, damages, conceals, removes, alters, or destroys any national monument or any protected national heritage site shall be fined a maximum of $40,000 or spend no more than two years in prison, or be subjected to both fine and imprisonment, if convicted before a Resident Magistrate’s Court.