Sat | Dec 9, 2023

National holidays in honour of Bob Marley and Miss Lou

Published:Saturday | March 18, 2023 | 12:11 AM

THE EDITOR, Madam:

An excellent way to honour the memories of arguably Jamaica’s two greatest cultural icons, world renowned cultural ambassadors and legends, Robert Nesta Marley and Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett-Coverley, is for the Government of Jamaica to accord each of them posthumously their own national public holiday. For Marley, the national holiday could be, for example, the second Thursday in February, which is his birth month. For Miss Lou, the holiday could be placed on the second Thursday of her birth month, September.

‘Bob Marley Day’ and ‘Miss Lou Day’ would be wonderful and no doubt welcome additions to Jamaica’s national annual calendar. Further, if those two national holidays are implemented, it would help to address the frequent call of many Jamaicans, including me, for Bob Marley and Miss Lou to officially be named Jamaican national heroes.

It is an opportune time for two of Jamaica’s most beloved, most respected and most revered national treasures to be honoured, celebrated and reflected upon, with their own national public holidays.

PATRICK GALLIMORE

pagalley@protonmail.com