Senior cop makes appeal after Marley’s statue defaced
BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Friday, September 13, 2013
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HEAD of the St Andrew Central Police Division Senior Superintendent Fitz Bailey has appealed to Jamaicans to display a greater sense of civic pride and protect the country’s national symbols.
Bailey made the call yesterday after the life-sized bronze statue of reggae legend Robert Nesta Marley OD was daubed in red paint at the Celebrity Park, just outside the Independence Park that houses the National Stadium in Kingston.
[Hide Description] Workers of I-Print Digital clean the red paint from Bob Marley’s statue yesterday. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)
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The desecration is said to have happened in the aftermath of the drawn CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match between Jamaica and Costa Rica on Tuesday night. No one has been arrested.
Bailey warned that anyone caught perpetrating similar offences will be hit with the full force of the law.
“It is part of their civic duty to ensure that these and other items are protected,” he said.
The statue is the work of renowned sculptor Alvin Mariott, who has also been commissioned to sculpt busts of national heroes such as Alexander Bustamante — the first prime minister of independent Jamaica — Norman Manley, and Marcus Garvey.
He also created the sculpture of an athlete, which was erected directly in front of the grandstand at the National Stadium in time for the country’s first Independence celebrations in August 1962.
The sculpture was inspired by Arthur Wint, winner of Jamaica’s first gold medal in 1948 and the three athletes — Herb McKenley, Les Laing and George Rhoden — who returned with him to capture the Olympic gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki, Finland 4×440 yards relay.
Before he retired in the 1980s, Marriott was requested to create the life-sized bronze figure of Marley.
The monument to Marley has drawn the attention of visitors and locals alike who flock to Independence Park to snap photographs of the sculpture.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Protect-the-national-symbols_15066899#ixzz2emZ725YJ
Ispy link up dere one second
That’s good! Dem to damn out ah order! Whe winning/losing/drawing a game haffi do wid di statue? The statue is part of Jamaica’s pride & tourism! Bob shoulda gid dem all ah rahtid box inna dem sleep! Dem woulda fraid fi pick up paint again!
YOU SEET, WEH ONE TING HAFFI DO WID DI OTHER? IF DEM KNOW A DI COSTA RICANS DO THIS THEN THEY SHOULD GO AFTER THEM AND PROSECUTE DEM TO DA EXTENT OF THE LAW. WHY ARE JAMAICANS LEFT TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS. DOES ROSTA RICANS EVEN HAVE NATIONAL HEROS? BASTARDS, DI WAY MI LOVE BOB MARELY I WOULD MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP TO COSTA RICO JUST TO DAMAGE SOME A DI TINGS DEM HOLD DEAR TO DEM HEART
Was it proven that Costa Ricans did it in first place?
If they did then I’d be ashamed, specially knowing that Jamaicans supported our idea of turn our backs to the Fair Play anthem, after that unfair snow match we were forced to play against the United States. Given that case, I apologize. Otherwise you’re just giving baseless insults.
By the way, we DO have a national hero, but what happens? A “war hero” isn’t that known as a music legend does. A war hero doesn’t sell 20+ millon CDs around the world, which makes him less known that Mr. Marley.
Greetings from Costa Rica. Best wishes to Jamaican football team with Winnie Schaefer.