StJMC passes resolution for a Jimmy Cliff statue and museum

WESTERN BUREAU:

The St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) on Thursday passed a resolution during its monthly meeting to erect a statue of the late reggae icon James ‘Jimmy Cliff’ Chambers at the entrance to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in downtown Montego Bay.

The resolution, which will be sent to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport for review, was presented and unanimously approved by the councillors in attendance.

Thursday’s resolution comes two months after Government Senator Charles Sinclair, who is also a councillor at the StJMC, called for Jimmy Cliff’s home in Somerton, also in St James, to be transformed into a museum, and for the erection of a statue of him on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.

In reading the resolution at Thursday’s meeting, Councillor Damion Brown, of the Montego Bay West division, referenced previous actions that were taken to recognise Jimmy Cliff’s impact on St James, to include the March 2019 renaming of Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, formerly known as Gloucester Avenue.

“Whereas Jimmy Cliff has, in his chosen vocation, achieved local, regional, and international acclaim, and has contributed to the recognition and development of Brand Jamaica, and has done so in a manner which has been inspirational and dignified… be it resolved that this honourable council collaborate with the honourable Minister of Sport, Entertainment, and Gender to commission and erect a statue at a suitable location at the entrance to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard,” said Brown.

“Be it further resolved that this council, in collaboration with the family of Jimmy Cliff, establish a museum in his honour at an appropriate place in the parish of St James. Be it further resolved that the resolution be sent to the honourable Minister of Sport, Entertainment, and Gender, and to the municipal corporations, for action and support,” Brown added.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Responding to the resolution’s presentation, Michael Allen, the councillor for the Somerton division, recounted a past inspirational encounter he had with Jimmy Cliff during his youth that highlighted the entertainer’s community spirit.

“As a product of the Somerton division, where Mr Chambers, better known as Jimmy Cliff, is from, I duly support this resolution, and it is a good thing. Growing up there, I saw where he was a community-oriented person, and he did so much in that community,” said Allen. “When he formed the Oneness Football Club, I used to hang around the playfield when they were training. One evening when he came with their jerseys, I did not get a shirt, and he was like, ‘How this little man don’t get any shirt?’ and he said I must get a shirt.”

Jimmy Cliff rise to stardom came via Jamaica’s first major commercial film, The Harder They Come, which helped to popularise reggae globally, as well as through songs such as Many Rivers to Cross, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and the similarly named theme song for the aforementioned film.

The prolific hit-maker, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, died on November 24, 2025 at age 81. A service to celebrate his life was held at the National Indoor Sports Centre on December 17.

In the meantime, Montego Bay Deputy Mayor Dwight Crawford, the councillor for the Spring Garden division, told the meeting that the construction of a statue in Jimmy Cliff’s honour should provide an opportunity to present positive aspects of Jamaica’s history.

“I believe that the construction of this statue is the turning point where, when we speak of our history and when people come to Montego Bay and they want to know what makes Montego Bay great, we will not take them to some places that were constructed during slavery,” said Crawford. “When a stranger comes to Jamaica, looks at a statue of Jimmy Cliff, and does his research, he will understand that here is implanted something that displays one of the greatest people this world has ever seen.”

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com