October 3, 2013
I would first like to extend my greetings and wish you and the rest of the
St Catherine Parish Council family a Happy New Year.
Regarding the recent office visit of one of our directors, accompanied by
two trustees of The Ethiopian Salvation Society, this letter serves as an
overview of the current status of Pinnacle and our request that you halt the
redevelopment of lands connected to the Pinnacle estate and burial site of
Mrs. Tenneth Bent Howell.
Pinnacle’s lot 199, has been declared National Heritage as of
September 12, 2013, and is now protected under the Jamaica National
Heritage Trust (“JNHT”) Act. Having a single lot of Pinnacle named as a
JNHT site took six years, and was a tedious process fraught with various
roadblocks. However, we cannot celebrate yet because Pinnacle is still at
risk. Currently, the surrounding area is being disturbed and reconstructed.
These acts are tantamount to the continued cultural genocide of the
Rastafari Movement both locally and global.
We are aware that the St Catherine Parish Council granted permission for
the St Jago Hills/Island Homes Developer to subdivide, however, we are
greatly concerned with the recent development and excavation methods
employed. We have witnessed the dynamite and excavation of Gungo
Walk Communal burial space where hundreds of Rastafari were laid to rest
for over 19 years, the sale of the plot at the top of Pinnacle which contain
the remains of Mrs. Tenneth Bent Howell since 1944, and the clearing of
the Howellites from the foothills of Pinnacle to construct a highway.
Moreover, the public health protocols for handing the remains of those
departed have not been adhered to. Recently, a person that purchased the
lot with Mrs. Howell’s remains, cleared and burnt the area in preparation
for building their home. The Howell family had not been notified of these
actions nor did the court grant permission for such action.
We ask that you halt the redevelopment of the Pinnacle estate. First, the
legal case concerning ownership of the Pinnacle estate is still ongoing, as
the Spanish Town civil court has yet to render a decision. Secondly, it has
not been made explicitly clear to us that proper authorization existed for
St Jago Hills Developers/Island Homes to subdivide Pinnacle. As was
previously mentioned by one of our directors, the land records reflect that
Pinnacle was not owned by St Jago Hills nor the government of Jamaica
but was purchased by Leonard Percival Howell and Mrs Tenneth Bent
Howell in the name of The Ethiopian Salvation Society.
Given the above mentioned, and in light of the reparations claim from
Jamaica to the United Kingdom, we wish to resolve these issues as quickly
as possible. We ask that you halt any further development and excavation
of Pinnacle and remain cognizant that under our watch, tomorrow’s history
of Pinnacle and Rastafari is being constructed. We seek your
understanding and recognition of the fact that what has been allowed to
happen to Pinnacle and Rastafari is tantamount to cultural genocide.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation in these grave matters.
Sincerely,
Monty Howell
Chairman
REPOSTED IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT DESECRATION OF GRAVE SITES AT PINNACLE
Here’s the way I see it; Jamaica is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. The ONE God; Yah-Jah is THE God of Jacob Israel. Elizabeth Windsor became Chief of the Tribe of Judah, the Monarch and head of State of the Commonwealth on Feb. 6, 1952. She remained head of State until she donated-surrendered her Signet ring, at the Temple of Dagon, June 2, 1953. Her power was given over to papal agent the Lord Privy Seal making pope the trustee. At this time the corporation; HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND was invented in exchange, under the Civil List, Elizabeth and family went on an exhaustive life long permanent all expenses paid vacation. Nothing in the Pentateuch permits Judah from delegation ESPECIALLY to a poly deist! Elizabeth traces her roots to King David. Elizabeth has the Pentateuch, pope has the Douay-Vulgate-Rheams Bible but pope fronts Vatican curia with its code of canon law (Cana’an law … wondering where the Cana’anites went?) The Law you want is the Law the judges swore to uphold as being subjects of the white lion of Judah?
Congratulations Stephen! Your writing over the years has been of real help and asssntaice to a great many people.Keep up the good work, and again, Thanks!Lou
Friday July 11, 2014
On Thursday July 3, 2014 a delegation consisting of Monty Howell, Donisha Prendergast, Sistar Hodesh, Brother Canute Swaby, Brother Gallimore and youth Negus Tafari paid a visit to three of the many burial areas at Pinnacle. The burial areas visited were Gungo Walk, Ten Chains and Goat Penn which the government of Jamaica indicated they wanted to visit with the aim of preserving.
Gungo Walk
At Gungo Walk one of the larest burial areas at Pinnacle which is located in phase two of the development we found the markers very easily but the entire area was now a new elaborate housing development and roads with a lot of excavation work done to degrade the burial area. I knew this area was developed when the objection was filed by the Millenium Council to Pinnacle being declared National Heritage and I indicated same to the Parish council ..please see attached letter. It was heartbreaking to observe how the ankhcestral remains of Africans who begun the Gglobal Rastafari Movement were dug out of their resting places to create homes for many new families who were not aware they were living in a burial ground.
TEN CHAINS
At Ten Chains burial area we founds a structure built on it. All the markers to indicate the burial site were intact and many burial mounds remain visible to the naked eye. This area will provide human remains when and if excavated and must be saved.
GOAT PENN
At Goat Penn another large burial area and the last place where the ancients were interred we found the topsoil removed by bulldozer and the area turned into a soccer field. A road is in the middle of this buril space and one large home is visible.All the markers which are mango trees remain intact with one particular mango tree blowing noisily in the wind.
This would be a good site to recover remains.
All in all a very trying day for all. This visit had to be made so we can put pressure on the developer to stop this illegal, immoral and disgraceful act.
The ankhcestors demand same. Will upload the raw footae today and post.
One love
Hodesh