PRESS RELEASE: The Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee (RCGC) is now The Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society (RCGBS)

PRESS RELEASE:

Yannick Pessoa (RCGBS- PRO) · June 30, 2015

The Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee (RCGC) isnow The Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society (RCGBS).

As our world becomes smaller, indigenous communities are gaining increasing international awareness. Local groups and societies are evolving to serve their members, and communities, and in doing so, have come to reconsider their roles,their images, their identities, their “branding,” and, consequently, their names. This is such an occasion for The RastafariCoral Gardens Benevolent Society (RCGBS) as it embarks on its continuing journey.

The Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee’s primary role has been to spread awareness of the Coral Gardens atrocities of 1963, to foster dialogueon the subject and prevent any further atrocity from taking place by implementing proactive administration for the preservation of the Rastafari community. In light of this broad aim, the activities of the Committee included the following:

1. Give cash, donate food items, purchase furniture and equipment for needy elders who are victims of the Coral Gardens atrocities
   
   
2. Organise health clinics and transport sick elders to the doctor
   
   
3. Assist with funeral expenses of elders
   
   
4. Develop a scholarship program in partnership with the Western Jamaica Campus of the University of the West Indies for youth from the Rastafari community.
   
   
5. Produce a newsletter called “Chimurenga” which means “Revolutionary Struggle”

As the RCGC's role evolved into socio-economic directions, the Committee began to face challenges because of the magnitude ofassistance needed and the small amount of human and financialresources at its disposal. The Executive bodyconsequently recommended to its members that they seekregistration as a Benevolent Society. This move is intended to garnerthe support of the Jamaican State and society, target local and international agencies that are established to assist the needy, andstrengthen the efforts of the organisation at improving transparencyand accountability. 

The Society was registered as a Legal Entity under the Friendly SocietiesAct on April 23, 2015. On Sunday, June 21, 2015, the InauguralGeneral Meeting was convened at the University of the West IndiesOpen Campus in Montego Bay. The new name and status simply reflect current reality and remove previous limitations. The Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society can now move forward to become a self sustaining entity in a global environment.