PRESS RELEASE: Thank You from The Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee

The Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee thanks Speakers, Sponsors, Artistes, Well-wishers and the Rastafari Community for participation in the 52nd Commemoration of the atrocity against Rastafari 1963 “Bad Friday” and the recognition of Empress Menen Earthstrong Success.

Empresses receiving the Menen Award

Over 25 Rastafari Elders, Matriarch and Patriarch were given an entire day of royal treatment on the cozy grounds of Montego Bay Cricket Club , Jarrett Park on April 3rd 2015 at the annual Coral Gardens “(Bad Friday)” Commemoration. The day commenced with the Elders, many of whom are victims of the atrocities of the Coral Gardens incident being given medical checkups by Dr. Jodine Jacto - Tafari and the medical team, doing blood sugar test, blood pressure test, nutritional and other medical advises. Later in the afternoon the seated elders were treated to a scrumptious banquet of wine, cake, sip and food by the culinary team, a running lap of honor that turned into many laps were done by Jackie Roots and her Children on the ground during the banquet.


The event then turned its attention towards the recognition of Empress Mennen 125th Birthday and awarded certificates of recognition to nine Rastafari Matriarchs for their continued struggle in the development of the Rastafari Community. Special attention given to posthumous awarded Ivorine Walsh (Mama Ita) a great warrior for the upliftment of women and mother of popular reggae Artiste Queen Ifrica.




Patrons were moved by the messages from out of the Speakers Corner of the event. Maureen Minto, Clinton Hutton, Bunny Wailer, Ras Iya-V, Michael Barnett, Maxine Stowe, inspired the audience with messages about our struggle as Rastafari and pan-Africanist in the 21st century, reaffirming that the struggle continue even as it is passed from generation to generation.



The cultural presentations were filled with energetic performances from poets, singers, drummers and the empresses Sis Isis , Sis Isha and Sis Jackie Roots marshalled the proceedings with Jah Mike Sound System to a prompt after 2:00am closure making way for the spiritual Nyahbhing Chanting till around 8:00am in the Saturday morning.

Information about the Committee’s full range of programs and services will soon be available on-line as we seek to broaden our outreach and education of the public of our missions, aims and progress in the struggle.

The Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee is a Rastafari / Pan African non-aligned organization centred around the Coral Gardens Incident, attending to the Rastafari Community, elders and survivors of the atrocity also the youths.