MONTEGO Bay, Jamaica – Overlaying 100 kilometers, the Ocho Rios to Montego Bay leg of Jamaica’s Freeway 2000 showcases the nation’s scenic shoreline, which attracts hundreds of thousands of vacationers yearly. Cultural activist Ras Astor Black is pushing for a reputation change.
He needs it to be renamed Reggae Freeway to salute primarily Rastafarian reggae artists who’ve helped make Jamaica a significant vacationer vacation spot. The stretch covers three parishes — St. Ann, Trelawny and St. James.
Ras Astor Black
“We’d like one thing vital to indicate the contribution of Rastafari to tourism. We expect this might be a becoming tribute as a result of many vacationers come to Jamaica due to Rastafari,” mentioned Ras Astor Black, a religious Rastafarian.
At first, he needed to rename the freeway the Bob Marley Freeway. He needed to honor Jamaica’s most famous person. Nonetheless, the Bob Marley Basis didn’t like this concept. The choice is Reggae Freeway, as lots of the music’s largest names are from the aforementioned parishes.
They embody Marley, Burning Spear and Shabba Ranks from St. Ann, Anthony B and Ky-Mani Marley from Trelawny and The Blues Busters, Queen Ifrica and Kranium who have been born in St. James.
Ras Astor Black is scheduled to satisfy with mayors of every parish to debate the proposed title change. He hopes to have a call by 2025.
Born in St. James, Ras Astor Black lived in Chicago for practically 30 years. He hosted the Reggae Vibrations Present on WNUR 88.9, the radio station at Northwestern College.
Since he returned to Jamaica in 1999, he has run basically and native elections. He’s a candidate for the Jamaica Alliance Motion, a celebration he began quickly after coming again.
He believes Rastafarians ought to profit financially from tourism, Jamaica’s foremost earner of overseas trade.
“We’ve seen artists consuming out of rubbish cans as a result of they by no means received the respect they deserve. Rastafari is used to draw guests, so no less than $1 from each vacationer must be given to compensate us,” mentioned Ras Astor Black.
