TALKING POINTS FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM, HON. EDMUND BARTLETT AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE REDESIGNED MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY MULTIMEDIA MUSEUM LIBERTY HALL, KINGSTON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016

SALUTATIONS:

• Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange
• Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill
• Mrs. Allison McLean, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport
• Dr. Donna McFarlane, Director/Curator, Liberty Hall
• Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon...  
• It is a pleasure to be here with you this afternoon to participate in the official opening of Liberty Hall’s newly renovated Marcus Mosiah Garvey Multimedia Museum.
• The Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey – Jamaica’s first national hero and probably one of our best known citizens – has helped put our nation on the map in a very distinctive way.
• Garvey was an influential figure who gained global prominence as the leader of one of the largest organized mass movements in history.
• He was a passionate proponent of Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism and through his Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) fought for the freedom, justice, and equality of black people throughout the world.
• One measure of the influence of his philosophy and accomplishments is the impact that he had on later civil rights activists, including President Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his significant influence on Rastafarianism and Reggae music.
• Such was Garvey’s great influence that in his time, this renowned political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur and orator was hailed as a "Black Moses."
• Liberty Hall, where we stand this afternoon, is Garvey’s legacy to the people of Jamaica.  In the early 1900s, it was the worldwide headquarters of the UNIA.  Today, this living monument to Marcus Garvey provides facilities for the education, entertainment and enrichment of the people of Jamaica and visitors alike.
• I am therefore truly heartened that the Ministry of Tourism, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), was able to partner with the Institute of Jamaica to refurbish the museum at Liberty Hall. It is important that we preserve Garvey’s significant contribution for generations to come.
• The Tourism Enhancement Fund provided J$13.6 million to completely refurbish the museum, which now features interactive touch-screen exhibits, face-morphing technology and life-size graphics, notable images of Garveyites such as Randolph “Ranny” Williams, Frank Gordon  and Queen Mother Mariamme Samad and many others whose lives were shaped by Garvey’s philosophy.
• These renovations will help bring Garvey’s history to life and engage patrons in new and exciting ways.
• I dare say Garvey would be pleased with these efforts for it is he who pronounced that “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
• There is a strong link between culture and tourism, and as you look around I am sure you will agree that Jamaica's rich cultural heritage is quite evident.
• According the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), one of the pillars of the tourism industry has been mankind's inherent desire to see and learn about the cultural identity of different parts of the world.
• In domestic tourism, cultural heritage stimulates national pride in one's history. In international tourism, cultural heritage stimulates a respect and understanding of other cultures and, as a consequence, promotes peace and understanding.
• The UNWTO estimates that heritage and cultural tourism accounts for 40% of international tourism. It is one of the most popular forms of tourism with a growth rate that is even faster than that of global tourism.
• It is sites like Liberty Hall that tourists are increasingly seeking to visit as they search for a more authentic Jamaican experience and as our own Jamaicans become more conscious of our rich history.
• Heritage tourism, particularly at the regional and local levels, can have a significant positive impact.  It contributes to the growth of the local economy; creates new jobs; strengthens local identity; contributes to the economization of cultural monuments; and at the same time strengthens the attractiveness and competitiveness of the destination.
• This diversity is important as we seek to drive revenue earnings while we continue our efforts at increasing visitor arrivals.
• Against this background, our Ministry and its Agencies have implemented initiatives to enhance the visitor experience while giving our own people a greater appreciation of their history.
• The Tourism Enhancement Fund has committed substantial resources to the restoration and preservation of Jamaica’s built heritage and, in doing so, has created a richer and more diverse product for visitors to our island to enjoy.
• The Jamaican people too have benefitted from the preservation of these heritage sites, by being able to see, touch and experience our history.
• Since inception, TEF has committed some J$900 Million to the preservation of heritage and cultural sites across the island, including the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, the Rio Nuevo battle site, the Devon House mansion and Seville Great House, to name a few.
• The newly renovated Mosiah Garvey Multimedia Museum will certainly enhance Kingston’s powerful allure as the island’s cultural capital and is a strong selling point that will appeal to those travellers with a special interest in heritage and culture.
• I would like to commend Liberty Hall and the Institute of Jamaica for this noble initiative. The Tourism Enhancement Fund and by extension the Ministry of Tourism are honoured to have been given the opportunity to partner with you in this important venture.  I also commend those persons who have generously contributed their Garvey collections to the museum.
• This is a marvellous cultural treasure of which we should all be very proud.

Thank you.