Hundreds of Jamaicans led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness crammed into the Gordon Town Square in the afternoon of September 7, to witness the unveiling of the statue of Louise Bennett Coverley – Miss Lou, as she is affectionately known by Jamaicans.
In a ceremony punctuated by recitals of Miss Lou’s dialect poems and songs, an emotional Fabian Coverley, Miss Lou’s son was joined on stage by long-time Gordon Town resident, Barbara Gloudon in reminiscing about life during the Louise Bennett era and the mutual love shared by herself and the community.
Both Prime Minister Holness and Culture Minister, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange underscored the pivotal role played by Miss Lou in making Jamaicans proud of their language and culture which are important ingredients in defining what is now ‘brand Jamaica’.
The 8-foot larger–than-life statue is cast in bronze and sculpted by artist Basil Watson. It faces southwards dominating the centre of the square which itself will be further enhanced and renamed ‘Louise Bennett Square’ on September 7, 2019 on the 100th anniversary of Miss Lou’s birth. It is expected that the cosy village of Gordon Town, located a few miles outside the city of Kingston, will see an increasing number of visitors both local and overseas, to pay homage to Jamaica’s most beloved cultural figure. Master of Ceremonies for the unveiling ceremony, Oliver Samuels appealed to the residents of Gordon Town to care for the statue and to be welcoming to visitors who come to view it.
The Louise Bennett statue was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport as a Jamaica ’55 Legacy Project.
